An electrophile (or electrophilic reagent) is a reagent that forms a bond to its reaction partner (the nucleophile) by accepting both bonding electrons from that reaction partner.
An "electrophilic substitution reaction" is a heterolytic reaction in which the reagent supplying the entering group acts as an electrophile. For example
C6H6 + NO2+ (electrophile) ![[arrow]](/img3/F_files/ARROW.gif){kind=icon}
C6H5NO2 + H+ (electrofuge)
Electrophilic reagents are Lewis acids. "Electrophilic catalysis" is catalysis by Lewis acids.
The term "electrophilic" is also used to designate the apparent polar character of certain radicals, as inferred from their higher relative reactivities with reaction sites of higher electron density. See also electrophilicity.
