DEACTIVATING GROUP Meaning and
Definition
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A deactivating group is a term commonly used in organic chemistry to describe a functional group or substituent that has the ability to lower the reactivity of a molecule or a specific part of it. It is referred to as a deactivating group because it decreases the electron density or electron-availability at the reactive site, thus making it less likely to participate in chemical reactions.
Typically, deactivating groups are electron-withdrawing groups, meaning they possess a higher electronegativity than the atoms they are attached to. These groups tend to pull electron density away from the reactive site through inductive effects or resonance, resulting in a diminished reactivity.
One of the primary consequences of having a deactivating group in a molecule is a decrease in the nucleophilicity of the corresponding site. This means that the ability of that specific part of the molecule to attract or react with nucleophiles, substances with an affinity for electron-rich species, is significantly reduced.
Deactivating groups can have notable effects on various reactions, such as electrophilic aromatic substitution. For instance, nitro (-NO2) and carbonyl (-C=O) groups are known to be strong deactivating groups when attached to an aromatic ring, making the ring less susceptible to electrophilic attacks.
In summary, a deactivating group in chemistry is an electron-withdrawing functional group or substituent that diminishes the reactivity of a molecule or a particular region within it by reducing electron density or availability, thereby lowering the propensity for chemical reactions to occur at that site.
Etymology of DEACTIVATING GROUP
The term "deactivating group" is a chemistry term used to describe certain functional groups or substituents that decrease or lower the electron density in a molecule or a particular part of a molecule, thereby reducing its reactivity. It is commonly used in organic chemistry to discuss the effect of different groups on the ease of chemical reactions.
The etymology of the term can be broken down as follows:
1. "De-" is a prefix derived from Latin, meaning "down" or "removal". It is often used to indicate negation or reversal of the action.
2. "Activating" is a word derived from the verb "activate", which comes from the Latin word "activatus", meaning "to put into action". It generally denotes increasing or enhancing some kind of action or function.
3. "Group" refers to a specific set of atoms that are bonded together and contribute to the properties and reactivity of a molecule.
