Alkylation

Transferring an alkyl group from one molecule to another is known as alkylation. An alkyl carbocation, a free radical, a carbanion, or a carbene are possible transitions for the alkyl group (or their equivalents). Reagents for alkylation include alkylating agents. Dealkylation, a procedure, is another way to get rid of alkyl groups. Alkylating compounds are frequently categorised based on whether they are nucleophilic or electrophilic. Alkylation in the context of oil refining refers to a specific isobutane-olefin alkylation. Alkylation creates a premium blending stock for gasoline to upgrade petroleum. Chemotherapy in medicine use DNA alkylation to harm cancer cells' DNA. Alkylating antineoplastic agents are a class of medications that cause alkylation. Carbon-carbon bonds are created by the process of c-alkylation. The most prominent instance of this occurs in the alkylation units of petrochemical facilities, which transform low-molecular-weight alkenes into components of high-octane gasoline. Linear alkylbenzenes, which are used to make surfactants like LAS, or butylated phenols, like BHT, which are used as antioxidants, are two instances of how electron-rich species like phenols are frequently alkylated to create a range of products. Lewis acids like aluminium or acid catalysts like Amberlyst can be used to accomplish this. Alkyl halides are used in the Friedel-Crafts reaction in a laboratory setting because they are frequently less volatile than the equivalent alkenes, which are typically gases. Aluminum trichloride serves as the catalyst for the reaction.