Named Reactions in Organic Chemistry
(Class 12 - CBSE)
Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
Finkelstein Reaction
**Reaction**: R–Cl/Br + NaI → R–I (in acetone)
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Halogen exchange via SN2 mechanism. Used to prepare alkyl iodides.
Swarts Reaction
**Reaction**: R–Cl + AgF → R–F + AgCl
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Used for fluorination of haloalkanes.
Wurtz Reaction
**Reaction**: 2R–X + 2Na → R–R + 2NaX
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Coupling reaction to form alkanes from alkyl halides.
Sandmeyer Reaction
**Reaction**: Ar–N₂⁺ + CuCl/CuBr → Ar–Cl/Br
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Used for substitution of diazonium salts.
Balz–Schiemann Reaction
**Reaction**: Ar–N₂⁺BF₄⁻ → Ar–F + N₂ + BF₃
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Fluorination of aromatic rings.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Williamson Ether Synthesis
**Reaction**: R–O⁻ + R′–X → R–O–R′ + X⁻
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: SN2 reaction between alkoxide and haloalkane.
Reimer–Tiemann Reaction
**Reaction**: Phenol + CHCl₃ + NaOH → Salicylaldehyde
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Formylation at ortho-position of phenol.
Kolbe Reaction
**Reaction**: Phenoxide ion + CO₂ → Salicylic acid
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Carboxylation of phenoxide ion.
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
Rosenmund Reduction
**Reaction**: R–COCl + H₂ (Pd/BaSO₄) → R–CHO
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Conversion of acid chloride to aldehyde.
Clemmensen Reduction
**Reaction**: R–CO–R′ + Zn(Hg)/HCl → R–CH₂–R′
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Reduces ketones to alkanes under acidic conditions.
Wolff–Kishner Reduction
**Reaction**: R–CO–R′ + NH₂NH₂/KOH → R–CH₂–R′
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Reduces carbonyl to alkane under basic conditions.
Aldol Condensation
**Reaction**: 2CH₃CHO → CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CHO → CH₃CH=CHCHO (on heating)
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Forms β-hydroxy aldehyde and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.
Cannizzaro Reaction
**Reaction**: 2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH₃OH
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: Disproportionation of non-enolizable aldehydes.
Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky Reaction
**Reaction**: R–CH₂–COOH + Br₂/P → R–CHBr–COOH
**Mechanism**: Mechanism not provided in NCERT.
**Remarks**: α-halogenation of carboxylic acids.
Haloalkanes and Haloarenes (Actual Reactions)
Finkelstein Reaction
Reaction: R–Br + NaI → R–I + NaBr (in acetone)
Mechanism:
SN2 nucleophilic substitution.
Remarks:
Used to prepare alkyl iodides.
Swarts Reaction
Reaction: CH₃Br + AgF → CH₃F + AgBr
Mechanism:
Fluorination using heavy metal fluoride salts.
Remarks:
Used for preparation of alkyl fluorides.
Wurtz Reaction
Reaction: 2CH₃Br + 2Na → C₂H₆ + 2NaBr
Mechanism:
Formation of C–C bond via radical or ionic mechanism.
Remarks:
Limited to symmetrical alkanes.
Sandmeyer Reaction
Reaction: C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + CuCl → C₆H₅Cl + N₂
Mechanism:
Replacement of diazonium group by halide ion using Cu(I).
Balz–Schiemann Reaction
Reaction: C₆H₅N₂⁺BF₄⁻ → C₆H₅F + N₂ + BF₃ (on heating)
Mechanism:
Thermal decomposition of diazonium fluoroborate salt.
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (Actual Reactions)
Williamson Ether Synthesis
Reaction: CH₃CH₂ONa + CH₃I → CH₃CH₂OCH₃ + NaI
Mechanism:
SN2 attack of alkoxide ion on alkyl halide.
Reimer–Tiemann Reaction
Reaction: C₆H₅OH + CHCl₃ + 3NaOH → o-HO–C₆H₄–CHO + 3NaCl + 2H₂O
Mechanism:
Formation of dichlorocarbene intermediate.
Kolbe Reaction
Reaction: C₆H₅ONa + CO₂ + H⁺ → o-HO–C₆H₄–COOH
Mechanism:
Electrophilic substitution at ortho position of phenoxide ion.
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids (Actual Reactions)
Rosenmund Reduction
Reaction: CH₃COCl + H₂ → CH₃CHO (Pd/BaSO₄)
Mechanism:
Controlled hydrogenation of acid chloride.
Clemmensen Reduction
Reaction: CH₃COCH₃ + Zn(Hg)/HCl → CH₃CH₂CH₃
Mechanism:
Reductive removal of carbonyl group in acidic medium.
Wolff–Kishner Reduction
Reaction: CH₃COCH₃ + NH₂NH₂ + KOH → CH₃CH₂CH₃ + N₂ + H₂O
Mechanism:
Basic medium reduction of carbonyl via hydrazone formation.
Aldol Condensation
Reaction: 2CH₃CHO → CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CHO → CH₃CH=CHCHO (heat)
Mechanism:
Base catalyzed aldol followed by dehydration.
Cannizzaro Reaction
Reaction: 2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH₃OH
Mechanism:
Disproportionation of non-enolizable aldehydes.
Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky Reaction
Reaction: CH₃CH₂COOH + Br₂ + P → CH₃CHBrCOOH + HBr
Mechanism:
α-bromination of carboxylic acid via acyl halide intermediate.
