Organic Chemistry Reactions & Reagents

Aldehyde

Less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Oxidation:

MnO₄-/H+ (purple to colourless)

Cr2O7²-/H+ (orange to green)

Tollens (Ag+) → silver mirror

Benedicts / Fehlings (Cu²⁺) → red Cu⁺ or Cu_²O precipitate (blue to orange red precipitate)

= carboxylic acid

Elimination:

NaBH₄ = 1° alcohol

Ketone

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Elimination:

NaHB₄ = 2° alcohol

Carboxylic Acid

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

blue litmis turns red due to production of H₃O+

Acid-Base:

Acid + Base → carboxylate + alcohol

Acid + Carbonate → salt + CO2 + H2O (bubbles of CO2)

Acid + metal → salt + H2 (bubbles of H2)

Substitution:

Alcohol = ester + H2O

SOCl₂ = acid chloride

Amine or NH₃ + Heat = Amide

Alkane

Non-polar so 2 layers with water

Substitution:

Cl₂/Br₂ = haloalkane + HCl/Hbr (needs UV light)

Alkene

Non-polar so 2 layers with water

Addition:

H2 (pt catalyst, heat) = alkane

HCl or HBr = Haloalkane

H2O/H+ = 1° Alcohol

Cl₂/Br₂ = dihaloalkane (Br2 = rapid orange to colourless)

Oxidation:

MnO4- = Diol (purple to brown solid)

Polymerisation:

high temp/pressure, catalyst = poly(alkane)

1° & 2° Haloalkane

Non polar so form 2 layers with water

Elimination:

KOH (alc) = alkene

Substitution:

KOH (aq) = 1° & 2° Alcohol

3° Haloalkane

Non polar so form 2 layers with water

Substitution:

NH3 (alc, conc) + heat = amine

KOH (aq) = 3° alcohol

1° Alcohol

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

no reaction with lucas reagent

Elimination:

conc H2SO4, heat = alkene

Oxidation: MnO4-/H+ or C207²^-/H+ (distil & heat) = aldehyde = carboxylic acid (orange to green or purple to colourless)

Substitution (All alcohols):

PCl3 / PCl5 / SOCl2 = chloroalkane

2° & 3° Alcohol

lucas reagent: slow with 2°, fast/immediate with 3°

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Oxidation: MnO4-/H+ or C207²^-/H+ (distil & heat) = ketone

3° Alcohol = no reaction

Amine

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

red litmus turns blue due to production of OH-.

Acid-Base

H2O = ammonium ion + OH- (weak base)

Esters

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Hydrolysis (H2O breaks bonds of substance):

H2O = carboxylic acid + alcohol (acid or base catalyst, if base will deprotonate (lose H+) the carboxylic acid)

Substitution

NH3 = amide + alcohol

Acid Chloride

reacts vigorously when exposed to water fuming HCl

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Substitution:

H2O = carboxylic acid + HCl (gas, will give off bubbles and steam)

Alcohol = ester + HCl

NH3 = primary amide + NH4Cl

RNH₂ = secondary amide + RNH3⁺Cl^-

Amide

less than 4C = polar = 1 layer in water

Hydrolysis:

Acidic (H3O+, heat) = carboxylic acid + NH_4⁺

basic (OH-, heat): carboxylate salt + NH3