Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
Ambident
nucleophile
:
A
nucleophile
that can form new
bonds
at two or more spots in its structure, usually due to
resonance contributors
.
+
Alkylation
at carbon
Alkylation
at oxygen
An
enolate
is an ambident
nucleophile
because it can form a new
bond
at carbon or at oxygen.
Related terms:
Electrophile
Wikipedia entry
Return to glossary index