Organic Chemistry Exam #3 Review: Chapters 7 & 8

Vocabulary and conceptual flashcards covering substitution and elimination mechanisms, alkene reactions, and stereochemistry from Chapters 7 and 8.

Elimination Reaction

A reaction type where a substrate, such as an alkyl halide, reacts to form an alkene by losing atoms (like a hydrogen and a halogen).

SN2 Rate Equation

The reaction rate for a bimolecular substitution, represented as $Rate = k[substrate][nucleophile]$.

SN1 Stereochemistry

A reaction that results in about a 50:50 mixture of retention and inversion of configuration at the electrophilic center.

Nucleophile

An electron-rich species (such as $OH^-$, $CH_3OH$, or $NH_3$) that donates an electron pair to form a new bond.

Electrophile

The species in a reaction (such as the carbon in 2-chlorobutane) that is attacked by a nucleophile because it is electron-deficient.

Leaving Group

The atom or group (such as $Cl^-$) that detaches from the organic molecule during a substitution or elimination reaction.

Oxymercuration of an Alkene

A reaction involving $Hg(OAc)_2$ and water that follows Markovnikov orientation with anti-addition.

Catalytic Reduction

A process using hydrogen gas ($H_2$) and a palladium ($Pd$) catalyst to saturate double bonds; for 1,3-dibromocyclohexa-1,4-diene, 2 moles of $H_2$ are consumed.

Ozonolysis Reagents

A sequence typically involving 1. $O_3$ and 2. $Me_2S$ (or $Zn/H_2O$) used to cleave double bonds into carbonyl groups.

SN2 Reactivity Trend

The ranking of halides from most to least reactive based on steric hindrance, generally where primary halides are more reactive than secondary, which are more reactive than tertiary.

MCPBA

A reagent ($m$-chloroperoxybenzoic acid) used as a step in organic synthesis, often to form epoxides from alkenes.

Hydroboration-Oxidation Reagents

A two-step sequence involving 1. $BH_3 ext{·} THF$ and 2. $H_2O_2$, $NaOH$ used to achieve anti-Markovnikov hydration of an alkene.

Aprotic Solvent in SN2

A solvent like acetonitrile ($CH_3CN$) that is used with reagents like $NaN_3$ to provide high yields of substitution products.