Definition of abstraction

1. A chemical reaction or transformation, the main feature of which is the bimolecular removal of an atom (neutral or charged) from a molecular entity. For example:

   CH3COCH3 + (i-C3H7)2N- (CH3COCH2)- + (i-C3H7)2NH

   (proton abstraction from acetone)

   CH4 + Cl. H3C. + HCl

   (hydrogen abstraction from methane)

   See detachment.