Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Nucleophilic carbonyl substitution (nucleophilic acyl substitution): A substitution reaction which occurs at a carbonyl carbon. 'Nucleophilic acyl substitution' is a commonly used but misleading and erroneous term.


This Fischer esterification reaction is an acid-catalyzed nucleophilic carbonyl substitution reaction in which methanol (CH3OH) is the nucleophile.


Amide hydrolysis with aqueous base is a base-promoted nucleophilic carbonyl substitution reaction in which hydroxide ion is the nucleophile.