Question

Are Double Bonds Nucleophilic Or Electrophilic ?

Answer 1

Double Bond:

1. It is a chemical bond that has two electron pairs shared between two atoms.
2. Example: $\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C},\mathrm{O}=\mathrm{O}$

Nucleophile:

1. A chemical species that is capable of donating lone pair of electrons to an electron-deficient species.
2. Example: Ammonia$\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$, Methanol$\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{OH}\right)$.

Electrophile:

A chemical species that is electron-deficient and has the tendency to accept electron pairs.

Example: Aldehyde$\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}\right)$, Boron trifluoride$\left({\mathrm{BF}}_3\right)$.

Explanation:

1. Double bonds are the pi bonds which are considered to be much weaker than sigma bonds and thus can be easily broken.
2. Thus, the pi electrons are considered to be loosely bound and can easily attack electrophiles which leads to the formation of new sigma bonds.
3. So, in the overall process, sigma bonds are formed at the expense of pi bond and sigma bonds are stronger than pi bonds, so such a process is favored.
4. Thus double bonds are nucleophilic in nature.