Define ambident nucleophile, with an example.
Answer: A nucleophile with two different donor sites that can attack through either — e.g. CN⁻ (through C or N), NO₂⁻, SCN⁻.
Solution
An ambident nucleophile possesses two different nucleophilic centres and can attack an alkyl halide through either of them, giving different products.
Example: the cyanide ion, C≡N — attack through C gives cyanides (R–CN), attack through N gives isocyanides (R–NC). (Also: NO, SCN.)
Example: the cyanide ion, C≡N — attack through C gives cyanides (R–CN), attack through N gives isocyanides (R–NC). (Also: NO, SCN.)
CBSE Class 12 Board · 2019 · Subjective