What is an electrophile in organic chemistry?

In organic chemistry, an electrophile is defined as a species that accepts an electron pair from a nucleophile. Electrophiles are typically electron-deficient and can be positively charged or have a partial positive charge. This characteristic allows them to interact favorably with nucleophiles, which are electron-rich species that can donate a pair of electrons.

When an electrophile and nucleophile react, the electron pair from the nucleophile forms a bond with the electrophile, facilitating chemical transformation. The ability of electrophiles to accept electrons is fundamental to many reactions in organic synthesis, such as nucleophilic substitution and addition reactions, where transforming a substrate often involves interactions between nucleophiles and electrophiles.

In contrast, substances that donate electrons are not classified as electrophiles, and neither are catalysts or solvents, which serve different roles in chemical reactions. The distinction of electrophiles as electron pair acceptors is crucial for understanding mechanisms and reactivity in organic chemistry.