GRADIENT LINE REACTION-PATH OF HF ADDITION TO ETHYLENE

The gradient line reaction path of the HF addition to ethylene is show n to consist of two distinct gradient lines. The first connects the re actant minimum via one transition state to another transition state. T he second is associated with the internal rotation about the carbon-ca rbon bond in ethyl fluoride and this gradient line also passes through the second transition state. The main feature of this reaction path i s that the first gradient line is not connected to the product minima directly.