Chemists Debunk Century-Old Belief on Alkyl Groups
Researchers from Cardiff University have discovered that alkyl groups, traditionally thought to donate electrons, actually withdraw electrons from molecules, challenging a century-old belief in organic chemistry. This finding, published in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, suggests that chemistry textbooks need revision to reflect that alkyl groups are electron-withdrawing compared to hydrogen, impacting the understanding of molecular reactivity and properties.