What is the Difference Between Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Addition?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between nucleophilic and electrophilic addition lies in the role of the electron pair during the reaction.
- Nucleophilic Addition: In this type of addition, an electron-rich component (nucleophile) donates an electron pair to an electron-deficient species. The nucleophile is either negatively charged or has a lone pair of electrons, which it donates to form a new bond.
- Electrophilic Addition: In this type of addition, an electron-deficient species (electrophile) accepts an electron pair from another molecule. The electrophile can be positively charged or neutral with empty orbitals, and it forms a new bond by accepting electrons from the other molecule.
In summary, nucleophilic addition involves donating an electron pair by the added group, while electrophilic addition involves accepting an electron pair by the group being introduced.
Comparative Table: Nucleophilic vs Electrophilic Addition
The main difference between nucleophilic and electrophilic addition lies in the reactivity of the species involved. Here is a comparison of the two types of addition reactions:
Feature | Nucleophilic Addition | Electrophilic Addition |
---|---|---|
Definition | Nucleophilic addition is the process of adding a nucleophile to either an electron-deficient or a neutral molecule. | Electrophilic addition is the process of adding an electrophile to the pi bond of an alkene. |
Reactants | A nucleophile combines with a molecule. | An electron-deficient species or a neutral compound with empty orbitals combines with a molecule. |
Electron-Rich or Electron-Deficient | Involves an electron-rich component. | Involves an electron-deficient species. |
Reactivity | Nucleophiles donate an electron pair to form a new covalent bond. | Electrophiles are either positively charged or neutral, and they accept electron pairs from nucleophiles. |
For example, in a carbonyl group, electrophiles attack the oxygen, whereas nucleophiles attack the carbon. These reactions can be summarized as follows:
- In nucleophilic addition, a nucleophile attacks a carbonyl compound, which results in the formation of a new carbon-oxygen bond and the breaking of a carbon-oxygen bond.
- In electrophilic addition, an electrophile, such as a proton (H+), attacks a carbonyl compound, which results in the formation of a new carbon-hydrogen bond and the breaking of a carbon-oxygen bond.
In summary, nucleophilic addition involves the attack of a nucleophile, while electrophilic addition involves the attack of an electrophile.
- Electrophilic vs Nucleophilic Substitution
- Nucleophile vs Electrophile
- Nucleophilicity vs Basicity
- Free Radical Substitution vs Nucleophilic Substitution
- Base vs Nucleophile
- Electrocyclic vs Cycloaddition Reaction
- Electropositive vs Electronegative
- Free Radical Substitution vs Free Radical Addition
- Addition vs Substitution Reaction
- Oxidative Addition vs Reductive Elimination
- Electropositive vs Electronegative Radicals
- Addition vs Radical Polymerization
- Photocatalysis vs Electrocatalysis
- Electronegativity vs Polarity
- Hydrophilic vs Hydrophobic
- Aldol Addition vs Aldol Condensation
- Nucleotide vs Nucleic Acid
- Chemoselectivity vs Regioselectivity
- O Acylation vs N Acylation