THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD-INDUCTIVE EFFECT CONTROVERSY

The relative merits of the electrostatic field and inductive effects in the transmission of substituent polar effects have attracted much effort and interest. It is possible to formulate a number of studies to test the reality or otherwise of these models. the first is the contrast between the number of paths for an inductive effect and the geometric parameters and effective dielectric constant for the field effect. The second is the role of solvent effects on reactivity. The third is the study of model systems involving angular dependence of dipolar substituent effects. The evidence is reviewed and the conclusion reached that the electrostatic field effect may well account for all the effect observed.