apróticos

Apróticos is the plural form of the term aprotónico in Spanish, used mainly in chemistry to describe substances, solvents, and media that do not donate protons in chemical reactions. The concept is central in discussions of solvent effects on reaction mechanisms and acid–base behavior. Protic substances contain labile hydrogen atoms bonded to electronegative atoms (typically O–H or N–H) that can be donated as protons; aprotos, by contrast, lack such bonds and do not donate protons under ordinary conditions.

Aprotic solvents are often categorized as polar or nonpolar. Polar aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and dimethylformamide (DMF) can stabilize ions through dipole interactions without hydrogen-bond donation, which can enhance certain reactions like SN2. Nonpolar aprotic solvents, including toluene and aliphatic hydrocarbons, also lack proton-donating ability and are used for reactions where strong hydrogen bonding would interfere.

In practical terms, using an aprotic medium frequently requires moisture control and anhydrous conditions to preserve reactive intermediates or reagents. This is important in many organic and organometallic processes, where the solvent’s lack of acidic hydrogen can significantly influence reaction rates and pathways.

The term apróticos is used in contrast to protic solvents (water, alcohols, and similar substances) and is part of standard discussions of solvent polarity, dielectric properties, and reaction mechanisms in inorganic and organic chemistry.

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