Which of the following functional groups is commonly the electrophile in nucleophilic acyl substitutions?
A)ester
B)hydroxide ion
C)amine
D)thiol
E)carboxylate

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In nucleophilic acyl substitutions, the carbonyl carbon of the ester group is highly electrophilic due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the oxygen atom. The nucleophile attacks this electrophilic carbon, leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate which later collapses to form the product. Therefore, the functional group commonly acting as the electrophile in nucleophilic acyl substitutions is the ester group.

Which of the Following Functional Groups Is Commonly the Electrophile