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electrophilic

American

[ih-lek-truh-fil-ik] / ɪˌlɛk trəˈfɪl ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

of or relating to electron acceptance in covalent bonding (opposed to nucleophilic).

electrophilic British

/ ɪˌlɛktrəʊˈfɪlɪk, ɪˈlɛktrəʊˌfaɪl /

adjective

chem having or involving an affinity for negative charge. Electrophilic reagents ( electrophiles ) are atoms, molecules, and ions that behave as electron acceptors Compare nucleophilic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

electrophile noun
electrophilically adverb

Etymology

Origin of electrophilic

First recorded in 1940–45; electr(on) + -o- + -philic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers utilized potassium xanthate instead of hydrogen sulfide, owing to its better reactivity in aryne reactions and pentafluorophenyl bromide as an electrophilic brominating reagent.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023