alkylating
Attaching hydrocarbon groups
Alkylating describes a chemical process that attaches an alkyl group—a fragment of a hydrocarbon molecule—to another substance.
In medicine, alkylating agents are chemotherapy drugs that damage cancer cell DNA by adding these chemical groups, preventing the cells from dividing: Alkylating agents were among the first effective cancer treatments.
Cytotoxic alkylating agent
- cytotoxicToxic to cells
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- DNA crosslinkingCovalent joining of genetic strands
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
Electron-pair acceptor species
- nucleophileElectron-pair donating species
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- additionJoining quantities mathematically
- crosslinkingChemical bonds between polymers
guanine · covalent bond · base pairing · miscoding · activation energy
Lewis acid-catalyzed aromatic substitution
- organometallicCarbon bonded to metal
- methylationAttaching a methyl group
- SN1One-step nucleophilic replacement
- SN2Concerted nucleophilic displacement
Williamson synthesis · carbon chain · substrate · reagent · catalyst
nitrogen mustard
Cytotoxic alkylating agent
- cytotoxicToxic to cells
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- DNA crosslinkingCovalent joining of genetic strands
electrophile
Electron-pair acceptor species
- nucleophileElectron-pair donating species
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- additionJoining quantities mathematically
crosslinking · guanine · covalent bond · base pairing · miscoding · activation energy
Friedel-Crafts
Lewis acid-catalyzed aromatic substitution
- organometallicCarbon bonded to metal
- methylationAttaching a methyl group
- SN1One-step nucleophilic replacement
SN2 · Williamson synthesis · carbon chain · substrate · reagent · catalyst