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Homolytic cleavage is a type of chemical reaction where the bond between two atoms is broken in such a way that each atom retains one of the two electrons that comprised the bond. This process results in the formation of two free radicals, which are highly reactive due to the presence of an unpaired electron.

Mechanism

In homolytic cleavage, the bond between two atoms is broken evenly. This is in contrast to heterolytic cleavage, where one atom retains both electrons from the bond. The energy required to break a bond through homolytic cleavage is known as the bond dissociation energy.

The process of homolytic cleavage can be represented using a fish-hook arrow, which indicates the movement of a single electron. This is different from the regular arrow used in chemical reactions, which represents the movement of an electron pair.

Applications

Homolytic cleavage is a fundamental process in many chemical reactions, particularly in organic chemistry. It is involved in various types of reactions, including combustion reactions, free radical reactions, and polymerization.

In medicine, homolytic cleavage is a key process in the action of certain drugs and toxins. For example, the anticancer drug doxorubicin works by causing homolytic cleavage of DNA strands, thereby inhibiting the replication of cancer cells.

See also

• Heterolytic cleavage
• Bond dissociation energy
• Free radical reactions
• Polymerization

References

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