Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The Michael reaction is a nucleophilic addition of a carbanion to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound. It results in the formation of a carbon-carbon bond, expanding the carbon skeleton of organic molecules.
A negatively charged carbon atom that acts as a nucleophile in various organic reactions.
α,β: unsaturated carbonyl compound - An organic compound that contains a double bond between the alpha (α) and beta (β) positions relative to a carbonyl group.
Nucleophilic addition: A type of chemical reaction where a nucleophile forms a new bond with an electrophile, typically leading to the addition of new groups to molecules