Edexcel A-level Chemistry Organic Chem Reactions

Alkane to Halogenoalkane

Halogen and UV light (free radical substitution)

Alkene to Alkane

Hydrogen gas, Nickel catalyst and 150°C (addition)

Use of catalytic hydrogenation

Manufacture of margarine from unsaturated vegetable oils

Alkene to Dihalogenoalkane

Add bromine LIQUID and shake (electrophilic addition)

Alkene to hydroxyhalogenoalkane

Add bromine WATER and shake (electrophilic addition: CH2(OH)CH2(Br)

Alkene to Alcohol

Steam (water), phosphoric (v) acid catalyst (reversible)

Alkenes to diol

Shake in acidified potassium manganate solution: purple solution decolourises (oxidation)

Alkene to Halogenoalkane

Hydrogen halide

Halogenoalkane to Alcohol

Reflux with aqueous KOH

Halogenoalkane with aqueous silver nitrate in ethanol

Forms alcohol + halide ion --> forms AgX precipitate (water acts as nucleophile)

Halogenoalkane to Nitriles

Reflux with KCN in ethanol

Halogenoalkane to Primary amine

Heat in sealed tube with excess conc ammonia

Halogenoalkane to Alkene

Reflux with KOH in ethanol (elimination)

Alcohol to Iodoalkane

Red phosphorus and iodine

Alcohol to Chloroalkane

PCl5

Alcohol to Bromoalkane

KBr, 50% conc H2SO4

Primary alcohol to Aldehyde

K2Cr2O7, H2SO4, heat and distil

Alcohol to Alkene

Concentrated phosphoric (v) acid + warm

Primary alcohol to carboxylic acid

Excess K2Cr2O7, H2SO4 and heat under reflux

Secondary alcohol to Ketone

Excess K2Cr2O7, H2SO4 and heat under reflux

Aldehyde to Primary alcohol

LiAlH4 in dry ether

Ketone to Secondary alcohol

LiAlH4 in dry ether

Carbonyl compound to hydroxy nitrile + conditions

HCN in KCN (CN from KCN acts as catalyst), pH6-8

Nitrile to Carboxylic acid

Reflux with dilute HCl//OH- then strong acid (hydrolysis)

Carboxylic acid to Primary alcohol

LiAlH4 in dry ether --> hydrolysis by dilute acid

Carboxylic acid to Acyl chloride

Phosphorous (v) chloride

Alcohol + Carboxylic acid to Ester

Heat with concentrated H2SO4 (reversible)

Testing ester by smell

Add dilute sodium hydrogencarbonate solution --> smell

Ester to Alcohol + Carboxylic acid

Reflux with dilute acid (HCl or H2SO4)

Ester to Alcohol + Carboxylate ion

Reflux with dilute alkali (NaOH)

Acyl chloride to Ester

Alcohol (quicker reaction than carboxylic acid + alcohol)

Acyl chloride to primary amide

NH3 (in excess NH3, white smoke of NH4Cl formed from NH3 + HCl)

Acyl chloride to N-subsitututed amide

Primary amine

Benzene to bromobenzene

Br2 + Fe --> FeBr3 catalyst formed in situ

Arene to Alkyl benzene

Reflux with chloroalkane and AlCl3 (Friedel-Crafts)

Arene to Phenylketone

Reflux with acyl chloride and AlCl3 (Friedel-Crafts)

Benzene to Nitrobenzene

Warm with concentrated HNO3 and H2SO4

Phenol to 2,4,6-Tribromophenol

Shake with bromine water

Observations of 2,4,6,-tribromophenol

white ppt, antiseptic properties

Amine + water

R-NH3+ + OH- (alkaline solution, reversible reaction)

Amine + dilute acid

R-NH3+Cl- salt

Amine + acyl chloride

Amide + HCl

Amine + Halogenoalkane

R-(NH2+Cl-)-R

C2H5NH2 amine + [Cu(H2O)6]2+

[Cu(C2H5NH2)4(H2O)2]2+ complex ion + 4H2O

Halogenoalkane to straight chain amine

Excess conc ammonia in ethanol, heat in sealed tube

Nitrile to Primary amine

LiAlH4 in dry ether followed by dilute acid

Nitrobenzene to Aromatic amine

Reflux with tin and concentrated HCl

Amine to N-Substituted amide

Add acyl chloride

Grignard reagent formation

Halogenoalkane + Mg --> R-MgX --> R- + MgX+

Grignard reaction with CO2

Add dilute acid --> carboxylic acid

Grignard reaction with carbonyl in dry ether

Add dilute acid --> primary alcohol