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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Lewis Acids and Bases: Definition and Examples
02:33

Lewis Acids and Bases: Definition and Examples

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Integration of Proximal Alkoxide and Lewis Acidic Cations To Boost Nickel-Catalyzed Borylation

Benjamin S Grills1, Jennifer A Garden1, Benjamin N Bhawal1

  • 1School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, U.K.

Organic Letters
|January 19, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

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Lewis Acids and Bases02:33

Lewis Acids and Bases

In 1923, G. N. Lewis proposed a generalized definition of acid-base behavior in which acids and bases are identified by their ability to accept or to donate a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond.
A coordinate covalent bond (or dative bond) occurs when one of the atoms in the bond provides both bonding electrons. For example, a coordinate covalent bond occurs when a water molecule combines with a hydrogen ion to form a hydronium ion. A coordinate covalent bond also results when...
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This lesson delves into Lewis acids and bases in the context of the octet rule for electron-deficient compounds. Here, the concept is discussed, emphasizing the group 13 elements like boron or aluminium. Since group 13 elements possess three valence electrons, they form trivalent compounds with a sextet of electrons and a vacant orbital for the central atom. Consequently, these electron-deficient compounds accept electrons from other species to complete their octet in a chemical reaction. They...
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Lewis Acid-Base Interaction in Ph3P-BH3

Source: Tamara M. Powers, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University 
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Hydrolysis of esters under acidic conditions proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. In the presence of excess water, the reaction proceeds in a reversible manner, forming carboxylic acids and alcohols.
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