Alkylation

Alkylation is a chemical reaction that adds an alkyl group to a molecule by forming a new bond between the group and the molecule.

Nucleophilic substitution: A reaction in which a nucleophile replaces a leaving group on an electrophilic atom. Many alkylations transfer an alkyl group by displacing a leaving group from an alkyl donor.
Alkyl group: A substituent derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom. The group transferred in an alkylation is an alkyl substituent.
Methylation: The addition of a methyl group to a molecule. Methylation is the most common specific form of alkylation in chemistry and biology.
Acylation: A reaction that adds an acyl group, containing a carbonyl carbon, to a molecule. Acylation transfers a carbonyl-containing group rather than an alkyl group.
Electrophilic aromatic substitution: A reaction in which an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring. Friedel–Crafts alkylation is this reaction applied to aromatic rings.
Nucleophile: An electron-rich atom, ion, or molecule that forms a bond by donating an electron pair. Nucleophiles are common reaction partners that receive alkyl groups.
DNA alkylation: The covalent attachment of alkyl groups to DNA bases or its sugar-phosphate backbone. DNA alkylation can damage genetic material and underlies the action of some anticancer drugs.
Arylation: A reaction that attaches an aryl group to a molecule. Arylation transfers an aromatic group, whereas alkylation transfers a nonaromatic saturated carbon group.
Friedel–Crafts alkylation: A reaction that attaches an alkyl group to an aromatic ring using an electrophile and a Lewis acid catalyst. It is the canonical electrophilic aromatic alkylation, with characteristic rearrangements and polyalkylation.
Electrophile: An electron-poor atom, ion, or molecule that accepts an electron pair to form a bond. Alkyl donors commonly act as electrophiles at the carbon being transferred.

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