Question

What are ambident nucleophiles? Explain with an example.

Answer 1

Ambident nucleophiles are nucleophiles having two nucleophilic sites. Thus, ambident nucleophiles have two sites through which they can attack.

For example, nitrite ion is an ambident nucleophile.

Nitrite ion can attack through oxygen resulting in the formation of alkyl nitrites. Also, it can attack through nitrogen resulting in the formation of nitroalkanes.