Synthetic Routes - OCR A Chemistry A Level

Alkene to Haloalkane

Hydrogen Halide

Alkene to Primary Alcohol

Hydration reaction with H3PO4/H2O(steam)

Alkene to Alkane

H2 with Ni catalyst

Alkane to Haloalkane

Halogen with UV radiation

Haloalkane to Nitrile

NaCN (or KCN), reflux, ethanol

Haloalkane to Amine

Ethanol, NH3

Nitrile to Amine

Reduction with H2 and a Ni catalyst

Nitrile to Carboxylic Acid

Hydrolysis reaction with H2O/HCl, Heat

Haloalkane to Alcohol

NaOH (aq) under reflux

Alcohol to Haloalkane

Sodium Halide with H2SO4

Alcohol to Alkene

Concentrated H2SO4 (or conc. H3PO4), Heat

Alcohol to Ester

Esterification with carboxylic acid, conc. H2SO4 (or acid anhydride)

Carboxylic Acid to Ester

Esterification with alcohol, conc. H2SO4

Ester to Carboxylic Acid

Dilute acid (hydrolysis reaction), heat

Ester to a carboxylate

OH-, heat

Primary Alcohol to Aldehyde

Oxidation reaction with K2Cr2O7/H2SO4, under distillation.

Primary Alcohol to Carboxylic Acid

Oxidation reaction with K2Cr2O7/H2SO4, under reflux.

Secondary Alcohol to Ketone

Oxidation reaction with K2Cr2O7/H2SO4, under reflux.

Aldehyde to Hydroxynitrile

Nucleophilic addition with NaCN/H+

Carboxylic Acid to Acyl Chloride

SOCl2

Acyl Chloride to Carboxylic Acid

H2O

Acyl Chloride to Ester

Alcohol

Acyl Chloride to Primary Amide

NH3

Acyl Chloride to Secondary Amide

Primary amine

Nitration of Benzene

HNO3/H2SO4, reflux under 50 degrees C

Alkylation of Benzene

Haloalkane/AlCl3

Acylation of Benzene

CH3COCl/AlCl3

Bromination of Benzene

Br2/FeBr3 (or Fe or AlBr3)

Chlorination of Benzene

Cl2/AlCl3 (or Fe or FeCl3)

Nitration of Phenol

Dilute HNO3

Bromination of Phenol

Br2

Neutralisation of Phenol

NaOH(aq)

Hydroxynitrile to amine

H2, Ni

Nitrile to Amine

H2, Ni