Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Electrophilic addition reaction: An addition reaction in which an electrophile adds to a pi bond, usually an alkene or alkyne.

Selected Electrophilic Addition Reactions

Addition of HBr (an electrophile) to propene (a nucleophile).


Addition of water (via hydronium ion; an electrophile) to methylcyclohexene (a nucleophile).


Addition of water to methylcyclohexene (a nucleophile) via hydroboration-oxidation. Borane (BH₃) is an electrophile.


Addition of molecular bromine (Br₂; an electrophile) to cyclohexene (a nucleophile).