electrofilic

Electrofilic is a term used in chemistry to describe a chemical species that is attracted to or seeks out electrons. These species are typically electron-deficient and have a positive or partially positive charge, or a vacant orbital. Because they are electron-loving, electrofiles are often electrophilic reagents, meaning they can accept a pair of electrons from another molecule or atom to form a covalent bond.

Common examples of electrofiles include cations such as H+ or NO2+, and neutral molecules with polar double or triple bonds, such as carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) or carbon dioxide. Lewis acids are a broad class of compounds that frequently act as electrofiles. They readily accept electron pairs.

The concept of electrofilicity is central to understanding many organic reactions, particularly electrophilic addition and electrophilic substitution reactions. In these reactions, an electrofile attacks a region of high electron density, such as a double bond or an aromatic ring, initiating a chemical transformation. The strength of an electrofile is related to its electron-withdrawing ability and its ability to accept electrons.