Compounds that contain both an electrophile and a nucleophile are called ambident nucleophiles. These compounds have the ability to act as both a nucleophile, donating a pair of electrons to form a new bond, and as an electrophile, accepting a pair of electrons to form a new bond. Examples of ambident nucleophiles include cyanide ion (CN-), thiocyanate ion (SCN-), and nitrite ion (NO2-).