1. Chemical reactions in which two or more unsaturated molecules combine to form a cyclic compound, typically involving the rearrangement of electrons and bonds.
Usage: chemistry; plural form of cycloaddition; commonly used in organic chemistry and synthetic chemistry contexts

Examples

• The Diels-Alder reaction is one of the most important cycloadditions in organic synthesis.
• Cycloadditions are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to create complex ring structures.
• The mechanism of cycloadditions involves the simultaneous formation of two new bonds.
• Students studying advanced organic chemistry learn about various types of cycloadditions.
• Photochemical cycloadditions can be triggered by exposure to ultraviolet light.