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Interactions | Reactions | Processes
Classified as: Ambidentate Behaviour: Selectivity of beta-propiolactone
According to Pearsons hard soft [Lewis] acid base principle, hard Lewis acids have a strong affinity for hard Lewis bases and soft Lewis acids have a strong affinity for soft Lewis bases.
beta-Propiolactone reacts with hard nucleophiles (such as HO-) by acylation, and soft nucleophiles by alkylation. Note that while hard vs soft comparisons can be made for carefully selected pairs of species and/or reactive centres, the HSAB analysis is NOT general. For more information look in the Chemogenesis webbook section on Pearson's HSAB principle.![](http://www.chemthes.com/mech/181.gif)
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RO– |
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[CN]– |
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[R–S]– |
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© Mark R. Leach 1999 –
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