Question

What is ambident electrophile?

Answer 1

Hint: We need to understand the definition of electrophile and accordingly define what is an ambident electrophile. The word electrophile is made up of two words: "electro," which comes from the word "electron," and "phile," which means "to love." An electrophile is a molecule, ion, or atom that is lacking in electrons in some way. In other terms, an electrophile is a chemical that assaults the molecule's negative or likes electrons. They are usually positively charged or neutral species with vacant orbitals (electron-deficient compounds).

Complete answer:
We have to know that ambident refers to a chemical species whose molecular entities each include two distinct and strongly interacting reactive centres to which a bond may be formed in a reaction: the centres must be coupled in such a way that reaction at one site blocks or considerably retards subsequent assault at the other. Electrophiles are those who can accept a couple of electrons. Carboxylic esters $RC\left(O\right)OC{R}_3$ are examples of ambient electrophiles, as they react with nucleophiles at either the carbonyl or alkoxy carbon. Ambident nucleophiles can also be described in the similar manner.

Note:
We must note that molecular structures possessing two non-interacting (or feebly interacting) reactive centres, such as dianions of dicarboxylic acids, are not commonly regarded as ambident and are best defined as "bifunctional." The term's Latin etymology suggests two reactive centres, although it has also been wrongly used to chemical species having more than two reactive centres in the past. The word "polydent" (or, better still, "multident") is more appropriate for such species.