Nukleophilenangriff

Nukleophilenangriff is a fundamental concept in organic chemistry describing the reaction where a nucleophile donates an electron pair to an electrophile, forming a new covalent bond. A nucleophile, meaning "nucleus loving," is an electron-rich species, often carrying a negative charge or possessing lone pairs of electrons, such as hydroxide ions (OH-), alkoxides (RO-), or amines (RNH2). An electrophile, meaning "electron loving," is an electron-deficient species that readily accepts an electron pair, typically featuring a positive charge or a polarized bond, like carbocations (R3C+), carbonyl carbons (C=O), or alkyl halides (R-X).

The process of nucleophilic attack involves the movement of electrons from the nucleophile's highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the electrophile's lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). This interaction leads to the formation of a sigma bond. The rate and outcome of a nucleophilic attack are influenced by several factors including the strength and concentration of the nucleophile, the electrophilicity of the substrate, the presence of a good leaving group (if applicable), and the solvent used. Common examples include SN1 and SN2 reactions, nucleophilic addition to carbonyls, and nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Understanding nucleophilic attack is crucial for predicting reaction pathways and designing synthetic strategies in organic chemistry.