Written by Adeel Abbas
An electrophile is a chemical species that has a tendency to accept electrons in a chemical reaction. They are typically positively charged or neutral atoms or molecules that have a high electron density.
Definition of electrophile
Key points
- Electrophiles are chemical species that have a tendency to accept electrons in a chemical reaction.
- Examples of electrophiles include H+, HCl, Br2, AlCl3, H2O2, and SO3.
- Electrophiles are used in electrophilic substitution reactions and the formation of carbocations as intermediate species in many organic reactions.
Examples of electrophiles
Table of Contents
- H+
- Lewis acids such as AlCl3
- carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and ketones
- acyl halides and anhydrides
- nitriles
- alkyl halides
- epoxides
- sulfonic acids and their derivatives
In organic chemistry, electrophiles are important reactants in electrophilic substitution and electrophilic addition reactions.
I have also written an article on difference between nucleophile and electrophile you should read.
Examples of electrophilic substitution reactions
- Bromination of alkanes
- Halogenation of alkenes
- Nitration of aromatics
- Sulfonation of aromatics
Examples of electrophilic addition reactions include:
- Addition of hydrogen halides to alkenes
- Addition of carbonyl compounds to alkenes
- Addition of nitriles to alkenes
Applications of electrophile
Electrophiles are also used in the synthesis of organic compounds. For example, the use of electrophiles such as carbonyl compounds in the synthesis of alcohols, amines and aldehydes.
In organic chemistry, electrophiles are often used in electrophilic substitution reactions. These reactions involve the substitution of an atom or group of atoms in a molecule with an electrophile. One of the most common electrophilic substitution reactions is the electrophilic addition of H+ to an alkene to form an alkane. This process is known as catalytic hydrogenation.
Another important application of electrophiles in organic chemistry is in the formation of carbocations, which are intermediate species in many organic reactions. Carbocations are formed when an electrophile attacks a carbon atom, creating a positive charge on the carbon atom. These intermediate species can then react with nucleophiles to form new products.
Overall, electrophiles play an important role in many organic chemical reactions and are widely used in the synthesis of organic compounds.