Question

How do you generate a good nucleophile?

Answer 1

A common way is to deprotonate a molecule, such as `EtOH -> EtO^(-) + H^(+)`

where `EtOH = CH_3CH_2OH`

A more interesting way is to put a molecule in solution with an alkali salt such as `LiCl`, so something like butyllithium is a great nucleophile.

`(CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2)^(-) Li^(+)` `=>` `"BuLi"` abbreviation

or even:

`Na^(+) H^(-)`