Final answer:
When a nucleophile attacks an electrophilic carbon, it results in the creation of a new complex through a nucleophilic substitution reaction, often involving a concerted mechanism that leads to inversion of stereochemistry and formation of a tetrahedral intermediate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nucleophile attacks, it creates a new complex. In a nucleophilic substitution reaction, the incoming nucleophile begins the attack on an electrophilic carbon atom of the target molecule, typically denoted as carbon with a leaving group (X). The bond with the leaving group breaks heterolytically, which means that the bonding electrons are left with the more electronegative atom (the leaving group). This reaction mechanism is particularly common in SN2 reactions, characterized by a simultaneous bond formation and bond breaking process that occurs in a single, concerted step, leading to the inversion of stereochemistry at the carbon center being attacked.
During this process, the nucleophile donates a lone pair of electrons to form a covalent bond with the electrophilic carbon, subsequently leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. The transition state involves the groups originally attached to the carbon migrating to accommodate the incoming nucleophile. For example, in an electrophilic addition reaction, the nucleophile attacks a carbon-carbon double bond with simultaneous loss of the double bond and formation of two new single bonds.
The specific mechanistic details may vary depending on the substrate, the nucleophile, and the conditions present. The final product of a nucleophilic attack is a compound where the nucleophile has replaced the leaving group bonded to the substrate, resulting in the creation of a new complex or compound.