Nucleophilic addition to aldehydes and ketones
A nucleophile adds to the electrophilic carbonyl carbon while the π electron pair moves toward oxygen, forming a tetrahedral intermediate.
Key knowledge
A nucleophile adds to the electrophilic carbonyl carbon while the π electron pair moves toward oxygen, forming a tetrahedral intermediate. Proton transfers can yield an alcohol-type adduct or permit further transformations. Steric and electronic effects influence reactivity; acid activation changes the relevant nucleophile and sequence.
Conditions and scope
- This is a mechanistic family, not a universal product rule for every carbonyl compound.
- Aldehyde/ketone addition differs from acyl substitution when a suitable leaving group is attached.
Sources · 1
References
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Evidence and review
Inspected tetrahedral intermediate, protonation and alternative addition pathways.
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Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- uni-chem-carbonyl-addition
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion