Shortcomings of basing radical stabilization energies on bond dissociation energies of alkyl groups to hydrogen

Stabilization energies (S[E.sub.H]) of carbon radicals are defined as the difference between the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of C[H.sub.3]-H, as a reference point, and of R-H, where stabilization energy has implied that it is an intrinsic property of the radical and a quantitative measure of stability. S[E.sub.H] values are neither an intrinsic property nor a quantitative measure of stability and an alternative is available that is not limited only to carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds, does not depend on any one particular molecule or BDE as reference point and is accurate with different types of bonds.