“…Both R and P have C s symmetry; accordingly, our model assumes conservation of C s symmetry during the reaction. The importance of tunnelling reactions in organic chemistry has been demonstrated recently. − The example, SBV, and several derivatives have already served as touchstones for various investigations of pericyclic reactivity: synthesis, − spectroscopy, − kinetics, ,, electronic structure, ,,,,− thermochromicity, − ,, ab initio molecular dynamics, quantum dynamics of laser control, ,− and imaging of chemically active valence electrons during a pericyclic reaction . The thermochromicity of SBV, for example, is supported by the rather low potential barrier between R and P and the rather large energy gap between the potential energy surfaces (PES) of the electronic ground and first excited states. ,,,, Hence, the low barrier supports tunnelling in the electronic ground state.…”