https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.HT07048
A subclass of isodesmic reactions in which reactants and products contain equal numbers of carbon atoms in corresponding states of @[email protected]; moreover, there is matching of the carbon-hydrogen bonds in terms of the number of hydrogen atoms joined to the individual carbon atoms. To achieve all this matching, one should significantly extend the number and types of reference molecules. In the aliphatic series of @[email protected] these are propane, isobutane and neopentanes as well as propene and isobutene; for aromatics—buta-1,3-diene, 2-vinylbutadiene (3-methylidenehexa-1,5-diene) and 2,3-divinylbutadiene (3,4-bismethylidenehexa-1,5-diene). Thus to assess @[email protected] of cyclopropane and aromatic stabilization of benzene the following homodesmotic reactions are to be respectively analysed.
c-(CH2)3 + 3 CH3–CH3
3 CH3CH2CH3

\(\Delta H_{\exp }^{\,\unicode{x26ac}} = -26.5\ \text{kcal/mol}\) (\(110.9\ \text{kJ/mol}\)).
C6H6 + 3 CH2=CH2
3 CH2=CH–CH=CH2(trans)

\(\Delta H_{\text{calc}}^{\,\unicode{x26ac}}\text{(MP2/6-31G**)} = 23.9\ \text{kcal/mol}\) (\(100.0\ \text{kJ/mol}\))
Due to closer matching of the @[email protected] states of the atoms of reactants and products as compared to isodesmic reactions, the homodesmotic reactions give more accurate estimates of the intrinsic @[email protected] and the cyclic @[email protected] The definition may be extended to molecules with heteroatoms.