At the transition state, the hybridization on both the alpha and the beta carbons is changing from sp 3 to sp 2 . As this happens, the sp 3 orbitals of both the C α -H sigma-bond and the C β -X sigma-...At the transition state, the hybridization on both the alpha and the beta carbons is changing from sp 3 to sp 2 . As this happens, the sp 3 orbitals of both the C α -H sigma-bond and the C β -X sigma-bond become unhybridized p orbitals which hold two electrons (from the former C α -H bond) in the new pi bond.
