Hydride shift

Definition

A hydride shift is a rearrangement process where a hydrogen atom with its pair of electrons moves from one carbon to an adjacent carbocation center, stabilizing the molecule during electrophilic additions. This mechanism is key in understanding how carbocations can rearrange to form more stable intermediates in reactions involving alkenes.

Related terms

Carbocation: A positively charged ion (or intermediate) that contains a carbon atom with only six electrons in its valence shell instead of the usual eight.

Electrophilic Addition: A reaction where an electrophile forms a bond with an electron-rich alkene, leading to the addition of atoms or groups across the double bond.

Alkene: An organic compound characterized by having at least one carbon-carbon double bond, playing essential roles in various chemical reactions including electrophilic additions