text: According to the VSEPR theory of molecular bonding, the preferred geometry of a molecule is that in which both bonding and non-bonding electrons are as far apart as possible.  In molecules, it is quite common for these angles to be somewhat compressed or expanded compared to their optimal value.  This strain is referred to as angle strain, or Baeyer strain.  The simplest examples of angle strain are small cycloalkanes such as cyclopropane and cyclobutane, which are discussed below. Furthermore, there is often eclipsing or Pitzer strain in cyclic systems. These and possible transannular interactions were summarized early by H.C. Brown as internal strain, or I-Strain.  Molecular mechanics or force field approaches allow to calculate such strain contributions, which then can be correlated e.g. with reaction rates or equilibria. Many reactions of alicyclic compounds, including equilibria, redox and solvolysis reactions, which all are characterized by transition between sp2 and sp3 state at the reaction center,  correlate with corresponding strain energy differences SI (sp2 -sp3). The data reflect mainly the unfavourable vicinal angles in medium rings, as illustrated by the severe increase of ketone reduction rates with increasing SI (Figure 1). Another example is the solvolysis of bridgehead tosylates with steric energy differences between corresponding bromide derivatives (sp3) and the carbenium ion as sp2- model for the transition state. (Figure 2) 
  In principle, angle strain can occur in acyclic compounds, but the phenomenon is rare.