Introduction: Saytzeff Rule (Zaitsev’s Rule) The Saytzeff rule, also known as Zaitsev’s rule, dictates that during the dehydrohalogenation of an alkyl halide, the alkene with the highest degree of substitution is produced as the primary product. This implies that the carbon atom with the least number of hydrogen atoms attached to it undergoes the elimination … Read more
Introduction: Kumada Coupling The Kumada coupling reaction utilizes a nickel or palladium catalyst to catalyze the coupling of an organohalide with an organomagnesium compound, forming a carbon-carbon bond. Typically, the reaction takes place in a solvent such as ether or THF. The reaction mechanism involves oxidative addition of the organohalide to the Ni or Pd … Read more
Introduction: Sharpless Epoxidation The Sharpless epoxidation reaction actively forms an asymmetric epoxide from an alkene by utilizing a chiral catalyst. The catalyst consists of a mixture of titanium tetraisopropoxide, a Schiff base ligand, and a chiral diol. The reaction proceeds through a cyclic intermediate that contains the catalyst and the alkene. The chiral diol coordinates … Read more
Introduction: Jones Oxidation The Jones Oxidation reaction actively oxidizes primary and secondary alcohols, converting them to their corresponding carboxylic acids and ketones, respectively. It is a widely employed chemical method for this purpose. The reaction involves the use of a solution of chromic acid. It is prepared by adding sodium dichromate to a mixture of … Read more
Introduction: Robinson Annulation Robinson Annulation is a reaction in organic chemistry that allows the synthesis of cyclic compounds. The reaction involves the condensation of a carbonyl compound, usually a ketone or an aldehyde, with a cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketone, also known as a Michael acceptor. It proceeds via a six-membered transition state, in which the carbonyl … Read more
Introduction: Curtius Rearrangement The Curtius Rearrangement is a chemical reaction that involves the conversion of acyl azides into isocyanates. This reaction occurs via the migration of an alkyl or aryl group from the carbonyl carbon to the nitrogen atom of the azide. Theodor Curtius, who first described it in 1883, named the reaction. First, one … Read more
Introduction: Suzuki Coupling Suzuki Coupling is a chemical reaction that involves the coupling of two carbon-based molecules in the presence of a palladium catalyst. Japanese chemist Akira Suzuki developed the reaction in the 1970s, and it has since become a widely used method for forming carbon-carbon bonds. The Suzuki Coupling reaction involves combining an organoboron … Read more
Introduction: Mannich Reaction Organic chemistry is a vast field that deals with the study of organic compounds and their reactions. One such reaction is the Mannich reaction, which is widely used in organic synthesis to create new compounds. What is the Mannich reaction? The Mannich reaction is a condensation reaction between an amine, an aldehyde, … Read more
Introduction: Wittig reaction The Wittig reaction, named after its discoverer Georg Wittig, is a powerful tool for the synthesis of alkenes from aldehydes and ketones. Organic chemists widely use this reaction, considering it one of the most important methods for forming carbon-carbon double bonds. The reaction involves the reaction of a phosphorus ylide with a … Read more
Introduction: Wolff Kishner Reduction The Wolff Kishner reduction is a widely used organic chemistry reaction that converts carbonyl compounds into alkanes. Chemists apply this two-step process, first forming a hydrazone under basic conditions, and then reducing it to an alkane with a strong base under high temperature and pressure. The reaction can also be carried … Read more
The Claisen rearrangement is a highly valuable tool for synthetic chemists. The conversion of an allyl vinyl ether into a carbonyl compound occurs through a thermally induced reaction with acid or base catalysis. A strong base deprotonates the allyl vinyl ether to generate a nucleophilic allyl anion which attacks the carbonyl carbon of an ester to … Read more
Sonogashira coupling is an important chemical reaction in organic synthesis that involves coupling an aryl or vinyl halide with a terminal alkyne, using a palladium catalyst and a copper co-catalyst. Kenkichi Sonogashira discovered this reaction in 1975, and it has since become a valuable tool for constructing carbon-carbon bonds in organic molecules. The reaction mechanism … Read more
The Grignard reaction is a fundamental chemical reaction in organic chemistry that has revolutionized the field of synthetic organic chemistry. This reaction involves the formation of a carbon-carbon bond through the addition of an organomagnesium halide, known as a Grignard reagent, to a carbonyl group of an organic compound. This reaction was first discovered in … Read more
The Friedel Crafts acylation reaction involves the activation of an acyl halide or anhydride by a Lewis acid catalyst, which then reacts with an electron-rich aromatic compound to form an aryl ketone. The Lewis acid catalyst, typically aluminum chloride or aluminum bromide, coordinates with the carbonyl oxygen of the acyl halide, making the carbonyl carbon … Read more
Benzoin condensation is a carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction in which two aromatic aldehydes undergo catalytic coupling to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound, known as benzoin. The reaction proceeds through a nucleophilic addition mechanism, in which the aromatic aldehyde acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonyl group of another aldehyde in the presence of a catalyst. … Read more
The Heck reaction is a widely-used carbon-carbon coupling reaction in organic chemistry. It involves the palladium-catalyzed coupling of an aryl or vinyl halide with an alkene in the presence of a base. The reaction proceeds through a four-step mechanism, including oxidative addition, transmetalation, insertion, and reductive elimination. Chemists have also developed variations of the Heck … Read more
The Finkelstein reaction is a chemical reaction named after the German chemist Hans Finkelstein. The reaction involves the exchange of one halogen atom in an organic compound for a different halogen atom. The Finkelstein reaction is an important tool in synthetic organic chemistry, particularly for the synthesis of alkyl halides. The general reaction equation for … Read more
The Clemmensen reduction reaction reduces ketones or aldehydes to hydrocarbons using zinc amalgam and hydrochloric acid. Clemmensen Reduction Reaction Clemmensen reduction reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the reduction of ketones or aldehydes into corresponding hydrocarbons. It was discovered by Erik Christian Clemmensen, a Danish chemist, in 1913. The reaction involves the use of … Read more
Organic chemistry is a vast field that encompasses various synthetic routes to produce complex molecules. One of these methods is Knoevenagel condensation reaction. It is a versatile reaction that involves the condensation of carbonyl compounds and active methylene compounds to form α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction Knoevenagel condensation is a type of condensation reaction … Read more
Two German chemists, Adolf von Baeyer and Victor Villiger, independently discovered the Baeyer Villiger Oxidation reaction in the late 19th century. This reaction converts a ketone or an aldehyde into an ester or lactone, respectively. It finds wide application in the synthesis of a variety of organic compounds, including drugs, fragrances, and natural products. The … Read more