Introduction to Reactive Intermediates

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to reactive intermediates as discussed in the lecture, providing definitions and explanations for significant terms.

Reactive Intermediates

Transitory species with a short lifetime formed during chemical reactions, typically located at minima in the reaction coordinate diagram.

Transition States

Points on the reaction coordinate with maximum energy, signifying a temporary configuration of atoms during a reaction.

Kinetic Control

Conditions under which the rate of product formation is favored over reversion to reactants, often seen with reactive intermediates.

Carbocation

A positively charged carbon atom with three bonds, acting as a reactive intermediate.

Carbanion

A negatively charged carbon atom, serving as another type of reactive intermediate.

Arene

A cyclic hydrocarbon with alternating single and double bonds, undergoing substitution reactions.

Benzyne

A highly reactive intermediate formed from benzene, characterized by a triple bond and involved in various reactions.

Nucleophilic Attack

A reaction mechanism where a nucleophile donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond with an electrophile.

Regioselectivity

The preference of a chemical reaction to occur at one location over another on a molecule.

Cyclic Allenes

Unsaturated compounds that contain a double bond within a ring structure, which are reactive due to strain.

Reactive Intermediates

Transitory species with a short lifetime formed during chemical reactions, typically located at minima in the reaction coordinate diagram.

Transition States

Points on the reaction coordinate with maximum energy, signifying a temporary configuration of atoms during a reaction.

Kinetic Control

Conditions under which the rate of product formation is favored over reversion to reactants, often seen with reactive intermediates.

Carbocation

A positively charged carbon atom with three bonds, acting as a reactive intermediate.

Carbanion

A negatively charged carbon atom, serving as another type of reactive intermediate.

Arene

A cyclic hydrocarbon with alternating single and double bonds, undergoing substitution reactions.

Benzyne

A highly reactive intermediate formed from benzene, characterized by a triple bond and involved in various reactions.

Nucleophilic Attack

A reaction mechanism where a nucleophile donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond with an electrophile.

Regioselectivity

The preference of a chemical reaction to occur at one location over another on a molecule.

Cyclic Allenes

Unsaturated compounds that contain a double bond within a ring structure, which are reactive due to strain.

Electrophile

An electron-deficient species that accepts an electron pair to form a chemical bond, often targeted by nucleophiles.

Reaction Mechanism

A step-by-step sequence of elementary reactions by which overall chemical change occurs.

Reaction Coordinate Diagram

A graphical representation showing the energy changes throughout a reaction, illustrating transition states and intermediates.