https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02851
The cleavage of a bond ('homolytic cleavage' or 'homolytic fission') so that each of the molecular fragments between which the bond is broken retains one of the bonding electrons. A
unimolecular
reaction involving homolysis of a bond (not forming part of a cyclic structure) in a molecular entity containing an even number of (paired) electrons results in the formation of two radicals:
It is the reverse of
colligation
. Homolysis is also commonly a feature of
bimolecular substitution reactions
(and of other reactions) involving radicals and molecules.
See also:
bond-dissociation energy
,
heterolysis
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1122 [Terms] [Paper]