====== Alpha effect ======

The //Alpha Effect// was first described by [[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja01492a058|William P. Jencks and Joan Carriuolo]] in 1960.

It refers to the increased 'nucleophilicity' of a molecule  (i.e. the tendency for molecules or ions to donate a pair of electrons to form a chemical bond) due to the presence of another adjacent (alpha) atom with lone pair electrons.

The effect has been very well verified, and is routinely used.

A number of competing theories have been put forward to explain the phenomenon, but as yet there is no agreement in the international chemistry community as to the correct explanation.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_effect|Further reading]] at Wikipedia.