Term: electron pushing
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08166

Definition:
Method using curly arrows for showing the formal movement of an electron pair (from a lone pair or a \(\upsigma\) or \(\ce{\uppi\ bond}\)) or of an unpaired electron, in order to generate additional resonance forms or to denote a chemical reaction.

Notes:
1) The electron movement may be intramolecular or intermolecular.
2) When a single electron is transferred, a single-headed curly arrow or "fish-hook" is used, but the electron movement in the opposite direction is redundant and sometimes omitted.

Example:  [image]

Example: Array

Link: 
Related Term: resonance forms (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08205).
Related Term: curly arrows (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08160).

Image: electron pushing (https://goldbook.iupac.org/img/inline/08166.jpg) 

Source: PAC, 2022, 94, 353. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 410 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2018-1010)

Citation: 'electron pushing' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08166

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