The Conflict and Bifurcation Mechanisms of Structural Change

A simple isomerization will be used to illustrate the definition of structure and its change. Consider the transfer of a methyl group from one methylene group to the other in an open structure on the potential energy surface of protonated cyclopropane  

The conflict mechanism, which corresponds to an abrupt switching of nuclear attractors, is one of only two possible mechanisms for bringing about a change in structure. 

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