Abstract

The global electrophilicity pattern of singlet carbenes has been evaluated using an absolute scale based on reactivity indexes and an extension of it to describe the local electrophilicity power of molecules. The predicted electrophilicity values agree well with relative experimental scale, based on kinetic data proposed by Moss [Acc. Chem. Res. 1989, 22, 15]. A good qualitative comparison is found between the theoretical and experimental carbene-philicity. The theoretical model is able to accomodate within a unique scale those carbenes evaluated as electrophilic, ambiphilic, and nucleophilic species. The local analysis provides additional information about electrophilic activation/deactivation patterns induced by substituent groups in the molecule.