Question

Why can not a Nucleophilic attack an alkene?

Answer 1

Alkene: Alkenes are the unsaturated hydrocarbons having at least one double bond and have the general formula ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}}.$

• Alkenes are the electron-rich species having high $\mathrm{\pi }$-electrons density due to the presence of a double bond.
• Nucleophile species are those molecules that have high electron density and electron-donating nature.
• So, due to the high electron density on both alkene and nucleophile, these do not react with each other due to repulsion.
• Alkenes would prefer the electrophile over nucleophile to undergo an addition reaction due to the electron gaining nature of electrophile.