Abstract
Many heterolytic reactions are often accompanied by radical processes and contrariwise the reactions of radicals in many instances lead to the formation of ions. The simultaneous occurrence of homolytic and heterolytic processes cannot be explained from the viewpoint of the now generally accepted theory of organic reactions.These contradictions can be easily resolved if it is assumed that the formation of a new bond is preceded by the transfer of an electron from one reacting entity to another.
In the present work on the basis of voluminous literature material the conclusion is drawn that electron transfer processes actually play an important part in many organic reactions (reactions with free metals, some substitutions, etc.). The influence of various factors on electron transfer processes is examined. Assumptions concerning the relative role of these processes in the formation and reactions of organometallic compounds are advanced. There is a bilbiography of 242 references.