Question

Explain the term electrophile. Give examples.

Answer 1

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⁺, NO₂⁺, NO⁺, H₃C⁺,SO₃H, C₂H₅, R₃C, ect

b. Neutral species with vacant orbitals or incomplete octet of electrons in the outermost orbit: AlCl₃ , BF₃ , FeCl₃ , SO₂ , BeCl₂ , ZnCl₂ , PCl₅ , etc.

v. A polyatomic electrophile has an electron deficient atom in it called the electrophilic centre.

e.g. The electrophilic centre of the electrophile AlCl₃ is AlCl₃ which has only 6 valence electrons.