Organic chemistry and analysis Flashcards
What is an electrophile?
An electron pair acceptor. A species (ion or molecule) which is attracted to electron-rich regions in other molecules or ions. Electrophiles must be at least slightly positively charged.
What is a nucleophile?
An electron pair donor. A species (ion or molecule) with a tendency to donate electrons or react in regions of low electron density. A species strongly attracted to a region of positive charge. Nucleophiles are either fully negative ions or have a strong delta negative charge somewhere on the molecule
What is electrophilic addition?
Where an electrophile reacts with a molecule with a carbon=carbon double bond and a region of high electron density, and just one product is made.
What is nucleophilic addition?
Where a nucleophile reacts with a molecule with a region of low electron density and just one product is formed.
What is electrophilic substitution?
Where an electrophile displaces a functional group in a compound, which is often, but not always, a hydrogen atom.
What is nucleophilic substitution?
Where an electron rich nucleophile selectively bonds with or attacks the positive or partially positive charge of an atom or group of atoms to replace a leaving group.
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
