The document discusses electrophilic and nucleophilic addition reactions, explaining their mechanisms, classifications, and applications in organic chemistry. It provides examples such as the hydrogenation of ethene and the addition of hydrogen halides and Grignard reagents. Additionally, it highlights the importance of these reactions in various industries, including pharmaceuticals and plastic production.

1. NUCLEOPHILIC
AND
ELECTROPHILIC
ADDITION
REACTIONS
VANISRI K
ED24B1035
CHEMISTRY 2024 | NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PUDUCHERRY

2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PUDUCHERRY
COURSE CODE: ED1201
COURSE NAME: ORGANIC AND ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
TOPIC : ELECTROPHILIC AND NUCLEOPHILIC
ADDITION REACTIONS
SUBMITTED BY : VANISRI.K
ED24B1035
B.SC.B.ED(ITEP) PHYSICS
SUBMITTED TO : MR. DETCHANAMURTHY.S
CHEMISTRY FACULTY(DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)

3. TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION NUCLEOPHILIC ADDI
TION
ADDITION REACTION
EXPLANATION CONCLUSION
TYPES OF ADDITION
REACTIONS
ELECTROPHILIC ADDITION

4. INTRODUCTIO
N
WHAT IS AN ADDITION REACTION
In the simplest of terms of organic
chemistry, we can say that an addition
reaction is a chemical reaction wherein
two or more reactants come together to
form a larger single product.

5. The general chemical equation of addition reactions is given
as:
A+B C
⟶
Here, ‘A’ and ‘B’ are two reactants that yield a single adduct
‘C’ which is larger than both these reactants.
Hydrogenation of ethene is a perfect example of an addition
reaction. Hydrogenation refers to the addition of hydrogen
to a carbon-carbon double bond. When ethene is made to
react with hydrogen, its carbon-carbon double bond breaks
and to each of these carbon atoms, hydrogen is added.
Hence, it results in the formation of ethane. This reaction
takes place at a temperature of about 150°C and in the

6. SOURCE IMAGE: TESTBOOK

7. APPLICATION OF ADDITION REACTION
• It is used in the purification of aldehydes.
• It is known to produce alkanes from alkenes
and alkynes.
• It is also used to reduce the bond
multiplicity of some chemical compounds.
• It is known to convert alkenes to alcohol.
• It also helps in the formation of several
polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride.

8. ELECTROPHILE-NUCLEOPHILE
The terms Lewis acid and Lewis base are useful, but when
we are talking about making and breaking bonds to
carbons, we find that two other terms are more general. We
use the term electrophile to designate atoms or groups
which form bonds by using electron pairs from another
atom. The positively charged carbon above is an example. It
is attacked by the oxygen of water, using the oxygen's
unshared pair. We use the term nucleophile to designate the
atom or group which donates the electrons to make such a
new bond to carbon. In our example, the oxygen atom is
serving as a nucleophile. Another way to say this is that
nucleophiles make bonds using their own electron pairs.

9. A summary of the reactivity of the carbonyl group is that electrophiles attack
the oxygen; nucleophiles attack the carbon. We will find this to be a very
useful way to organize what we learn about many other reactions of carbonyl
groups.

10. TYPES OF ADDITION REACTIONS
For polar addition reactions there are two classifications, namely:
1.Electrophilic Addition reactions
2.Nucleophilic Addition reactions
For non-polar addition reactions, we have two
classifications, namely:
1.Free radical addition reactions

11. POLAR ADDITION REACTIONS
A polar addition reaction is a chemical reaction where an
electrophile or nucleophile adds to multiple bonds to form an
adduct. Polar addition reaction are further divided into two types
which are:
• Electrophilic Addition Reactions: Involves the addition of an
electrophile to a double bond.
• Nucleophilic Addition Reactions: Involves the addition of a
nucleophile to a double bond.

12. ELECTROPHILIC ADDITION:
In an electrophilic addition reaction, a reactant with a double bond is
attacked by an electrophile, which adds the electrophile to the double bond.
The mechanism of electrophilic addition can be illustrated using the example
of adding hydrogen halide to an alkene, such as adding HCl to propene.
Step 1: The pi bond of the alkene acts as a nucleophile and attacks the
hydrogen of the hydrogen halide, forming a carbocation intermediate and a
halide ion.
CH3CH=CH2 + HCl CH3CH2++ Cl -
→
Step 2: The carbocation intermediate then reacts with the halide ion, forming
the addition product.
CH3CH++ Cl - CH3CH2Cl
→

13. NUCLEOPHILIC ADDITION REACTION
In a Nucleophilic Addition Reaction, a chemical compound with a
double bond reacts with a nucleophile, adding the nucleophile to
the double bond. The mechanism of nucleophilic addition can be
illustrated using the example of adding a nucleophile to a carbonyl
compound, such as adding a Grignard reagent to a ketone.
Step 1: The nucleophile, such as a Grignard reagent, attacks the
carbonyl carbon, leading to the formation of an alkoxide
intermediate.
R2C=O + R'MgX R2C(OMgX)R'
→
Step 2: The alkoxide intermediate then picks up a proton from the
solvent, forming the addition product.

14. NON-POLAR ADDITION REACTIONS
Nonpolar addition reactions involves the addition of
nonpolar molecules or nonpolar functional groups to
unsaturated compounds in the absence of a polar solvent or
catalyst. Non-polar addition reaction are further divided into
two types which are:
• Free Radical Addition Reactions: Involves the addition of
a free radical to a double bond.
• Cycloaddition Reactions: Involves the addition of two or
more unsaturated molecules to form a cyclic product.

15. FREE RADICAL ADDITION REACTIONS
Free radical addition reactions involve the addition
of free radicals to unsaturated substrates, such as
alkenes which result in formation of a new
covalent bond.
One example of a radical addition reaction is the
addition of hydrogen bromide (HBr) to an alkene
in the presence of a peroxide initiator. This
reaction results in the anti-Markovnikov addition
of H and Br to the alkene, where the bromine ends

16. CYCLOADDITION REACTIONS
Cycloaddition reactions involve the formation of
cyclic compounds from two or more reactants.
These reactions are characterized by the formation
of multiple new bonds and the creation of a cyclic
structure in the product.
One example of a cycloaddition reaction is the
Diels-Alder reaction, which consists of the reaction
of a conjugated diene with a dienophile to form a
cyclic compound. An example of this reaction is the
reaction of 1,3-butadiene with ethene to form

17. EXAMPLE OF ADDITION REACTION
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18. APPLICATIONS
1. Electrophilic Addition:
Plastic Production: The polymerization of alkenes like ethene to form polyethylene involves electrophilic addition reactions.
This is used in making plastic bags, containers, and bottles.
Pharmaceuticals: The synthesis of drugs often involves electrophilic additions to create complex molecular structures. For
example, halogenation reactions in drug development.
Agriculture: Electrophilic addition is used to synthesize agrochemicals like pesticides and herbicides.
2. NUCLEOPHILIC ADDITION:
Food Industry: The Maillard reaction, which gives browned food its flavor, involves nucleophilic additions to carbonyl compounds
in sugars.
Perfume and Fragrance Industry: Synthesis of esters and other compounds used in perfumes often involves nucleophilic
addition reactions.
Pharmaceuticals: Many drugs, such as aspirin, are synthesized using nucleophilic addition reactions to carbonyl compounds.
Polymer Synthesis: Polyurethanes, used in foams and adhesives, are made through nucleophilic addition reactions between
isocyanates and alcohols.

19. CONCLUSION
• ELECTROPHILIC AND NUCLEOPHILIC ADDITION REACTION
1. Electrophilic Addition:
Typically occurs in alkenes and alkynes.
Initiated by the attack of an electrophile on an electron-rich region (like a π-bond).
Commonly observed in reactions like halogenation, hydrohalogenation, and hydration.
The mechanism involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate or a cyclic intermediate.
2. Nucleophilic Addition:
Common in carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones).
Involves a nucleophile attacking an electron-deficient carbon atom (typically of the carbonyl group).
Examples include cyanohydrin formation and nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents.
The mechanism often proceeds without intermediates or involves tetrahedral intermediates.
In both types of reactions, the addition of reagents across multiple bonds (π-bonds) leads to the formation of new σ-bonds, contributing to the construction of complex
molecules in organic synthesis.