Nucleophilicity, definition

Memorization Task 13.6 Nucleophiles, definitions of large and small For simplicity, we will use the following definitions of small and large nucleophiles ... 

An especially interesting case of oxygen addition to quinonoid systems involves acidic treatment with acetic anhydride, which produces both addition and esterification (eq. 3). This Thiele-Winter acetoxylation has been used extensively for synthesis, stmcture proof, isolation, and purification (54). The kinetics and mechanism of acetoxylation have been described (55). Although the acetyhum ion is an electrophile, extensive studies of electronic effects show a definite relationship to nucleophilic addition chemistry (56). 

Information on nucleophilic addition chemistry of quinones and various mechanistic rationali2ations have been discussed, and molecular orbital calculations have been proposed as more definitive approaches for explanation and prediction (63). 

Table 5.7 lists the nucleophilic constants for a number of species according to this definition. It is apparent from Table 5.7 that nucleophilicity toward methyl iodide does not correlate directly with basicity. Azide ion, phenoxide ion, and bromide are all equivalent in nucleophilicity but differ greatly in basicity. Conversely, azide ion and acetate ion are... 

When a Br nsted base functions catalytically by sharing an electron pair with a proton, it is acting as a general base catalyst, but when it shares the electron with an atom other than the proton it is (by definition) acting as a nucleophile. This other atom (electrophilic site) is usually carbon, but in organic chemistry it might also be, for example, phosphorus or silicon, whereas in inorganic chemistry it could be the central metal ion in a coordination complex. Here we consider nucleophilic reactions at unsaturated carbon, primarily at carbonyl carbon. Nucleophilic reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives have been well studied. These acyl transfer reactions can be represented by... 

The presence of iminium salts can be detected by chemical means or by spectroscopic methods. The chemical means of detecting iminium salts are reactions with nucleophiles and are the subject of this review. The spectroscopic methods are more useful for rapid identification because with the large number of model compounds available now the spectroscopic methods are fast and reliable. The two methods that are used primarily are infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Some attempts have been made to determine the presence of iminium salts by ultraviolet spectroscopy, but these are not definitive as yet (14,25). 

On the basis of the reaction of alkyl radicals with a number of polycyclic aromatics, Szwarc and Binks calculated the relative selectivities of several radicals methyl, 1 (by definition) ethyl, 1.0 n-propyl, 1.0 trichloromethyl, 1.8. The relative reactivities of the three alkyl radicals toward aromatics therefore appears to be the same. On the other hand, quinoline (the only heterocyclic compound so far examined in reactions with alkyl radicals other than methyl) shows a steady increase in its reactivity toward methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl radicals. This would suggest that the nucleophilic character of the alkyl radicals increases in the order Me < Et < n-Pr, and that the selectivity of the radical as defined by Szwarc is not necessarily a measure of its polar character. 

If the definitions of nucleophiles and electrophiles sound similar to those given in Section 2.11 for Lewis acids and Lewis bases, that s because there is... 

In summary we think that, on a superficial basis, a comparison of the effects of different nucleophilic species added covalently at the (3-nitrogen atom of an arenedi-azonium ion yields results that are almost trivial. Of more interest are unexpected results such as those of Exner and Lakomy for the substituent -N = CHC6H5. A possible explanation for the latter results emerged when the twisted structure of the substituent became known. We emphasize, however, that definitive explanations on the basis of Hammett or related substituent constants are not found very frequently. 

This area of reactivity has been the subject of excellent reviews (J5). Silyl enol ethers are not sufficiently nucleophilic to react spontaneously with carbonyl compounds they do so under the influence of either Lewis acids or fluoride ion, as detailed above. Few clear trends have emerged from the somewhat limited number of definitive studies reported so far, with ambiguities in diastereoisomeric assignments occasionally complicating the issue even further. 

The values of Hn and E are zero for water, by virtue of the constants 1.74 and 2.60. In these definitions, pKa refers to the acid ionization constant of the conjugate acid of the nucleophile, and E° to the standard electrode potential for the two-electron half-reaction ... 

The kinetics and stereochemical data definitely point to a transient aziridinone of inverted configuration 2 among the further potential intermediates (Fig. 5). Reactions of aziridinone 2 with a nucleophile would allow the crucial bond of the product Ifl to form through a second inversion (overall retention). This pathway... 

Not all nucleophiles are compatible with acid conditions, and unfortunately most carbon nucleophiles, especially RHgBr and RLi,definitely cannot be used in this way. The Friodel-Crafts reaction, with an aromatic ring as the carbon nucleophile, is quite satlsfactory. ... 

Whenever one compound uses its electrons to attack another compound, we call the attacker a nucleophile, and we call the compound being attacked an electrophile. It is very simple to tell the difference between an electrophile and a nucleophile. You just look at the arrows and see which compound is attacking the other. A nucleophile will always use a region of high electron density (either a lone pair or a bond) to attack the electrophile (which, by definition, has a region of low electron density that can be attacked). These are important terms, so let s make sure we know how to identify nucleophiles and electrophiles. 

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