Alkylation

Alkylation is the process of moving an alkyl group from one molecule to another. The alkyl group can be transferred as an alkyl carbocation, a free radical, a carbanion, or a carbene (or their equivalents). Reagents for achieving alkylation are called alkylating agents. Dealkylation is a method for removing alkyl groups. Depending on whether they are electrophilic or nucleophilic, alkylating agents are frequently categorised. Alkylation in the context of oil refining refers to a specific isobutane-olefin alkylation. Alkylation creates a premium blending stock for gasoline as a method of improving petroleum. Chemotherapy in medicine uses DNA alkylation to harm cancer cell DNA. Alkylating antineoplastic medicines are a group of medications that are used to achieve alkylation. The equivalent of an alkyl anion is delivered by nucleophilic alkylating agents (carbanion). When an electrophile is attacked by the formal "alkyl anion," a new covalent bond is created between the alkyl group and the electrophile. During the work-up, the counterion, which is a cation like lithium, can be eliminated and washed away. Using Grignard (organomagnesium), Grignard (organolithium), Grignard (organocopper), and Grignard (organosodium) reagents are a few examples of using organometallic compounds. Usually, these substances can add to a carbon atom that lacks an electron, such one that is part of a carbonyl group. Through the SN2 mechanism, nucleophilic alkylating agents can remove halide substituents from a carbon atom. As demonstrated by Suzuki couplings, they may also alkylate aryl and alkyl halides in the presence of a catalyst.