What is steric retardation?

Steric retardation refers to the phenomenon where the reaction rate of a chemical reaction is slowed down due to the hindrance caused by bulky neighboring groups or substituents in the reactants. These bulky groups create spatial constraints and hinder the effective collision and interaction of reactant molecules, leading to a decrease in the reaction rate.

In other words, steric retardation arises when the reaction requires the reactant molecules to come close together or undergo a specific geometric arrangement, but the bulky groups prevent or hinder this from happening efficiently. The presence of large atoms, functional groups, or molecular fragments that occupy significant space can create steric hindrance and disrupt the reaction pathway.

Steric retardation is commonly observed in various chemical reactions, including substitution, addition, and elimination reactions. It plays a crucial role in determining the reactivity and selectivity of chemical reactions. By understanding steric effects, chemists can design and optimize reaction conditions, catalysts, and molecular structures to overcome steric hindrance and achieve desired reaction outcomes.