photocyclization

noun

Any intramolecular photochemical process leading to a ring system by formation of one new single bond, either by a concerted process (e.g., electrocyclization) or by multi-step processes such as the Norrish-Yang reaction.

OriginEnglish cyclization ← Middle English cicle ← Late Latin cyclus →
Scrabble 37
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Meanings

nounphotocyclization (countable and uncountable, plural photocyclizations)

plural photocyclizations

  1. countableuncountablechemistryAny intramolecular photochemical process leading to a ring system by formation of one new single bond, either by a concerted process (e.g., electrocyclization) or by multi-step processes such as the Norrish-Yang reaction.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Late Latincyclus
  9. Middle Englishcicle
  10. Englishcycle
  11. Englishcyclize
  12. Englishcyclization
  13. Englishphotocyclization

From photo- + cyclization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photocyclization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocyclization

MLA

“photocyclization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocyclization. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photocyclization,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocyclization.

Source: photocyclization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.