Definition of migration

What is Migration?

Migration has several meanings used routinely in chemistry. It can be:

(1) The (usually intramolecular) transfer of an atom or group during the course of a molecular rearrangement.

(2) The movement of a bond to a new position, within the same molecular entity, is known as "bond migration".

Allylic rearrangements exemplify both of the above types of migration. For example:

RCH=CHCH2X → RCH(X)CH=CH2

(3) Movement of a substance's molecules in environments such as an electric field, or a concentration gradient, or a pressure or temperature difference.


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