Molecular thermodynamics for chemical reaction design

Various techniques of molecular thermodynamics and solution theory have been applied, through the transition state theory, to problems in chemical kinetics. These include experimental techniques for ascertaining the structure and properties of the transition states for various classes of reactions, plus analytical methods for using this information to predict the effect of solvents or reactant structure on chemical reaction rates. Such methods provide the chemical engineer with an additional parameter to use in the optimal design of reaction systems–that is, the chemistry of the reaction itself.