Question
Explain the term electrophile. Give examples.
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Answer
Electrophiles:
i. The species which accept electron pairs from the substrate during the reaction are called electrophiles.
ii. The electrophiles are electron seeking (or electron loving) species because they themselves are electron deficient.
iii. e.g. a. Positively charged/cationic electrophiles:
$H ^{+}, Cl ^{+}, Br ^{+}, I ^{+}, NO _2^{+}, NO ^{+}, H _3 C ^{+}, \stackrel{+}{ S } O _3 H , \stackrel{+}{ C }_2 H _5, R _3 \stackrel{+}{ C }$, etc.
b. Neutral species with vacant orbitals or incomplete octet of electrons in the outermost orbit: $AlCl _3, BF _3, FeCl _3, SO _2, BeCl _2, ZnCl _2$, $PCl _5$, etc.
iv. A polyatomic electrophile has an electron deficient atom in it called the electrophilic centre.
e.g. The electrophilic centre of the electrophile $AlCl _3$ is $AlCl _3$ which has only 6 valence electrons.
i. The species which accept electron pairs from the substrate during the reaction are called electrophiles.
ii. The electrophiles are electron seeking (or electron loving) species because they themselves are electron deficient.
iii. e.g. a. Positively charged/cationic electrophiles:
$H ^{+}, Cl ^{+}, Br ^{+}, I ^{+}, NO _2^{+}, NO ^{+}, H _3 C ^{+}, \stackrel{+}{ S } O _3 H , \stackrel{+}{ C }_2 H _5, R _3 \stackrel{+}{ C }$, etc.
b. Neutral species with vacant orbitals or incomplete octet of electrons in the outermost orbit: $AlCl _3, BF _3, FeCl _3, SO _2, BeCl _2, ZnCl _2$, $PCl _5$, etc.
iv. A polyatomic electrophile has an electron deficient atom in it called the electrophilic centre.
e.g. The electrophilic centre of the electrophile $AlCl _3$ is $AlCl _3$ which has only 6 valence electrons.
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