Organic Chemistry Reaction Summary

A set of flashcards summarizing key organic chemistry reactions and concepts for exam preparation.

Hydrohalogenation

Addition of a hydrogen halide (H-X) to an alkene, resulting in the formation of a haloalkane.

Diels-Alder Reaction

A cycloaddition reaction between a conjugated diene and a dienophile to form a six-membered ring.

Ozonolysis

A reaction involving the cleavage of alkenes or alkynes with ozone (O3) to form carbonyl compounds.

Grignard Reaction

A reaction in which Grignard reagents react with carbonyl compounds to form alcohols.

Hydroboration-Oxidation

A two-step process that adds borane to an alkene followed by oxidation to yield an alcohol.

Freidel-Crafts Alkylation

An electrophilic substitution reaction that introduces an alkyl group onto an aromatic ring.

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)

A reaction mechanism in which an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring.

SN2 Reaction

A bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction where a nucleophile replaces a leaving group in a single concerted step.

Catalytic Hydrogenation

The addition of hydrogen (H2) across a double or triple bond in the presence of a catalyst.

Anti-Markovnikov Addition

An addition mechanism where the less substituted carbon receives the new substituent, typically seen in reactions involving peroxides.

Acid-catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols

The removal of a water molecule from an alcohol, typically resulting in the formation of an alkene.

Reduction of a Ketone

A chemical reaction that converts a ketone to a secondary alcohol by adding hydrogen.

Zaitsev’s Rule

A rule stating that the more substituted alkene product will be favored in elimination reactions.

Clemmensen Reduction

A chemical reaction that reduces carbonyl compounds to alkanes using zinc amalgam and hydrochloric acid.

Alkoxymercuration-Demercuration

A reaction that adds an alkoxy group and a hydrogen across a double bond via mercuric ion intermediates.

Heck Reaction

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between aryl halides and alkenes.

Esterification

A reaction in which a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol to form an ester.

Wittig Reaction

A reaction where a ylide reacts with a carbonyl compound to give an alkene.

Aldol Condensation

A reaction where aldehydes or ketones react with each other to form β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds.

Nitration of Benzene

An electrophilic substitution reaction that introduces a nitro group (NO2) into a benzene ring.

Sulfonation of Benzene

An electrophilic substitution reaction that introduces a sulfonic acid group (SO3H) into a benzene ring.