Electrofuge
Encyclopedia
An electrofuge is a leaving group
which does not retain the bonding pair of electrons from its previous bond with another species.
After this reaction an electrofuge may possess either a positive or a neutral charge; this is governed by the nature of the specific reaction.
An example would be the loss of H+ from a molecule of benzene during nitration.
The word 'electrofuge' is commonly found in older literature, but its use is now uncommon.
Leaving group
In chemistry, a leaving group is a molecular fragment that departs with a pair of electrons in heterolytic bond cleavage. Leaving groups can be anions or neutral molecules. Common anionic leaving groups are halides such as Cl−, Br−, and I−, and sulfonate esters, such as para-toluenesulfonate...
which does not retain the bonding pair of electrons from its previous bond with another species.
After this reaction an electrofuge may possess either a positive or a neutral charge; this is governed by the nature of the specific reaction.
An example would be the loss of H+ from a molecule of benzene during nitration.
The word 'electrofuge' is commonly found in older literature, but its use is now uncommon.