Elektrofielen

Recall that in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, a nucleophile donates its electrons to an electrophile.

Electrophiles are electron-seeking reagents — either neutral or positively charged — containing an empty atomic orbital or a low-energy antibonding orbital.

A positive electrophile, like the proton — with a vacant, low-energy 1s orbital — is very reactive. Consequently, a nucleophile like the hydroxide ion attacks the proton, neutralizing the charge and forming water.

Another positive electrophile — the carbocation — has a vacant p orbital, making it reactive towards a nucleophilic attack. 

A neutral electrophile, like the Lewis acid boron trifluoride, has an empty p orbital that can accept electrons from the nucleophile, thus forming a bond and resulting in a stable complex.

In a neutral molecule like chlorobutane, the electrophilic center results from the electron-withdrawing inductive effect of the more electronegative substituent attached to the molecular chain.

In an organic electrophile with a double-bonded electronegative atom — like the carbonyl group — the C=O bond dipole renders a partial positive charge to the carbon atom.

In a reaction, the nucleophile deposits i