A reversible or irreversible reaction that involves the introduction of a
guest species into a host structure and that results in significant structural modifications to the host, for example, the breakage of bonds. Example: The
insertion of lithium at

into the spinel
Li[Mn2]O4 with symmetry

to yield a
layered structure with symmetry

.
Alternative terms:
topotactic reaction,
insertion reaction.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 592
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.