What's the difference between Lewis Bases and Nucleophiles, if any?
My Orgo textbook (along with wikipedia) says they are, by definition, the same thing. However, a 'Lewis Base' has to have an unshared pair of electrons that it can donate to an electrophile. Does that mean that pi bonds (such as in an alkene) are not nucleophiles in electrophilic addition reactions? If they're not nucleophiles, then what the heck are they?
My Orgo textbook (along with wikipedia) says they are, by definition, the same thing. However, a 'Lewis Base' has to have an unshared pair of electrons that it can donate to an electrophile. Does that mean that pi bonds (such as in an alkene) are not nucleophiles in electrophilic addition reactions? If they're not nucleophiles, then what the heck are they?
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A Lewis base is something that donates a pair of electrons. A nucleophile is something that also, donates a pair of electrons when attacking an electrophile.
Furthermore, when reacting with an alkene, what type of reaction are you talking about? Is there resonance? There are many things to take into consideration, but to hopefully clarify a little an alkene is able to open up its double bond and attack substances such as HBr, depending on the alkene it may be tertiary and undergo an SN1 reaction by attacking the H and then leaving a tertiary carbocation.
Furthermore, when reacting with an alkene, what type of reaction are you talking about? Is there resonance? There are many things to take into consideration, but to hopefully clarify a little an alkene is able to open up its double bond and attack substances such as HBr, depending on the alkene it may be tertiary and undergo an SN1 reaction by attacking the H and then leaving a tertiary carbocation.