The Woodward-Hoffmann Rules

The Woodward-Hoffmann Rules are guidelines in chemistry that predict whether certain chemical reactions will occur easily or require additional energy. They do this by analyzing the symmetry and arrangement of electrons in molecules during reactions. Essentially, the rules help chemists understand if a reaction can happen smoothly (conserving symmetry) or if it will face barriers. These principles are particularly useful for understanding reactions involving the movement of electrons in bonds, especially in processes like making or breaking double bonds. Overall, they provide a way to predict reaction pathways based on the symmetry properties of molecules.