Reaction Mechanism

Please, note that drawing electron flow arrows starting from lone pairs is only possible when lone pair visibility is turned on in View settings.

For describing the movement of electrons in the elementary reaction steps of a complex mechanism in Marvin JS, you can choose between two types of electron flow arrows: Single orDouble .

The former arrow type is for visualizing single electron movement, while the latter is for displaying the movement of electron pairs.

• How to draw an electron flow arrow

• How to edit the electron flow arrows

• How to delete electron flow arrows

• Related pages

As a chemically intelligent editor, Marvin JS does not allow drawing more than one single electron flow arrow per electron, as well as no more than one double electron flow arrow per lone pair.

How to draw an electron flow arrow

See a video tutorial about how to draw electron flow arrows in Marvin JS.

How to draw an electron flow arrow from an atom to an atom

Select the preferred type of electron flow arrow button.

Drag the electron flow arrow from the electron(s) to the target atom or bond. A grey feedback of the arrow appears.

The default setting is the incipient bond, but after creation you can change it anytime.

How to magnify the radical/lone pair

If the radical is too small to click on, after selecting the electron flow arrow tool, you can click on its atom to magnify them. When you drag from the radical (or lone pair), the zoom level changes back to the original state.

How to draw an electron flow arrow from an atom to a bond

The source atom should have at least one explicitly displayed radical or lone pair from which the arrow can be dragged.

The endpoint of the arrow will be the midpoint of the target bond.

In this case, the incipient bond type is unavailable.

A bond can be the target of an electron flow arrow only if it is adjacent to the source atom.

Electron flow arrow from bond to bond

While holding the left mouse button, drag the arrow from the source bond to the target bond.

Drawing an electron flow arrow from one bond to another is only possible if these two bonds have an atom in common.

How to indicate a bond formation in Marvin JS

Using the electron flow arrow tool, holding the left mouse button, drag the arrow from the original bond to the atom which will belong to the newly formed bond.

The incipient bond will appear from one atom of the bond to the atom. (You can change which atom is connected with the incipient bond by clicking on the arrow repeatedly.)

In order to add the other electron flow arrow, draw a single electron flow arrow from this radical to the atom on the other end of the incipient bond.

Restrictions of the creation of a curved arrow

Single electron flow arrows can start from:

• a radical electron

• a lone pair

• a bond

Double arrows can start from:

• a lone pair

• a bond

An arrow can end:

• on an atom

• on a bond; or

• on an incipient bond between two atoms which do not have a common existing bond.

How to edit the electron flow arrows

From incipient bond to normal electron flow arrow

How to change the arrow target

Click on the arrow.

The arrow changes back and forth from incipient to normal arrow.

Changing the source atom of an incipient bond

How to change the orientation of the electron flow arrow

To change the origin of the electron, click on the arrow.

When you want to draw a single electron flow arrow pointing to an atom instead, click on it again.

For the third click, the arrow head jumps back to its original position.

How to resize the electron flow arrow

Choose one of the electron flow arrow tools or the selection tools, then drag the electron flow arrow to change the arc of the curve. The new arrow will be shown in black, and the old one will turn grey.

How to change the position of the curved arrow Choose one of the electron flow arrow tools or the selection tools, then drag the electron flow arrow to the desired position. The new arrow will be shown in black, and the old one will turn grey.

Selection

Electron flow arrows can be selected either by clicking on them with the Rectangle or the Freehand selection tool being active, or by dragging over them with one of the selection tools. In the latter case, you can only select the electron flow arrow without its source and target atom or bond if you use the Freehand selection tool; while using Rectangle selection , the arrow can only be selected with its source and target.

How to delete electron flow arrows

Deleting electron flow arrows can be accomplished in the same way as with other objects: using either the Delete toolbar button or the the Delete keyboard button.

Please, note that an electron flow arrow is automatically deleted if its source or target atom is deleted or changed, as well as when one of the atoms belonging to its source or target bond is deleted or changed (incipient bonds included as well).

Related pages

Electron flow arrow

View Settings dialog

Reaction Mechanism

Reaction mechanisms in Marvin JS

Reactions in Marvin JS

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