A rearrangement that can occur in some polymerization reactions involving free radicals. A radical that has an unpaired electron at the end of the chain changes into a radical with the unpaired electron elsewhere along the chain, the new radical being more stable than the one from which it originates. For example, the radical
may change into
The rearrangement is equivalent to a hydrogen atom being transferred within the molecule. The new unpaired electron initiates further polymerization, with the production of polymers with butyl (CH3CH2CH2CH2–) side chains.
Backbiting
- microtidal
- microtome
- microtransaction
- microtubule
- microtubule-organizing centre
- microturbulence
- Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars
- microvariable
- microvillus
- microwave
- microwave background radiation
- microwave demagnetization
- microwave generator
- microwave integrated circuit
- microwave landing system
- microwave limb sounder
- microwave optics
- microwave radiometer
- microwaves
- microwave sounding unit
- microwave spectroscopy
- microwave tube
- micro‐
- micturition
- Mid-Atlantic Ridge