Alkylation

<p>Alkylation is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">chemical reaction</a> that entails transfer of an <a href="/facts/Alkyl/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a> group. The alkyl group may be transferred as an alkyl <a href="/facts/Carbocation/vIggUxTh">carbocation</a>, a <a href="/facts/Free_radical/qFymuVoT">free radical</a>, a <a href="/facts/Carbanion/AyYH2udQ">carbanion</a>, or a <a href="/facts/Carbene/3WxNSStY">carbene</a> (or their equivalents).  Alkylating agents are <a href="/facts/Reagent/c3GLInCu">reagents</a> for effecting alkylation.  Alkyl groups can also be removed in a process known as dealkylation.  Alkylating agents are often classified according to their <a href="/facts/Nucleophilic/xYccoaJQ">nucleophilic</a> or <a href="/facts/Electrophilic/1AHFg1zm">electrophilic</a> character. In oil refining contexts, alkylation refers to a particular alkylation of <a href="/facts/Isobutane/Bd8H7rsH">isobutane</a> with <a href="/facts/Alkene/RtYcS6kU">olefins</a>. For upgrading of <a href="/facts/Petroleum/IQV0bHVd">petroleum</a>, alkylation produces a premium blending stock for gasoline. In medicine, alkylation of <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> is used in <a href="/facts/Chemotherapy/fWTLbaUT">chemotherapy</a> to damage the DNA of cancer cells. Alkylation is accomplished with the class of drugs called <a href="/facts/Alkylating_antineoplastic_agent/U2NwjBbj">alkylating antineoplastic agents</a>.
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Alkylation open-in-new

Alkylation