Techniques for Learning Name Reactions in Organic Chemistry

Introduction

• Personal method to learn 20 name reactions quickly.
• Use mnemonic devices and associations to remember complex chemical reactions.

Reactions Overview

Words, Fittig, and Words-Fittig Reactions

• Mnemonic: "Roxana Buxana loves dried eggs."
  • Capitalize every second letter to form mnemonic elements.
• Words Reaction:
  • Reactants: Alkyl halide (R-X), Sodium (Na)
  • Products: Alkane, Sodium Halide (2NaX)
  • Solvent: Dry ether
• Fittig Reaction:
  • Reactants: Benzene with Halogen (B-X), Sodium (Na)
  • Products: Diphenyl, Sodium Halide (2NaX)
  • Solvent: Dry ether
• Words-Fittig Reaction:
  • Reactants: Alkyl halide and Benzene with Halogen, Sodium
  • Products: Alkyl Benzene, Sodium Halide
  • Solvent: Dry ether

Finkelstein Reaction

• Mnemonic: "Rukhsana India loves dry apples."
• Reactants: Alkyl halide (R-X), Sodium Iodide (NaI)
• Products: Alkyl Iodide, Sodium Halide
• Solvent: Dry acetone

Swarts Reaction

• Mnemonic: "Switzerland Flag"
• Reactants: Alkyl halide, Silver Fluoride
• Products: Alkyl Fluoride, Silver Halide

Sandmeyer and Gatterman Reactions

• Mnemonic: "Closed Custom Bazaar" for Sandmeyer
  • Reactants: Benzene (C6H5N2Cl), Copper (Cu), Bromine (Br)
  • Products: Alkyl halide, Nitrogen gas (N2), HCl
• Gatterman Reaction:
  • Reactants: Same as Sandmeyer minus Copper Chloride, uses Copper Powder

Kolbe’s and Reimer-Tiemann Reactions

• Kolbe’s Reaction:
  • Reactants: Phenol, Sodium Hydroxide, CO2
  • Products: Salicylic Acid
• Reimer-Tiemann Reaction:
  • Reactants: Phenol, Chloroform (CHCl3), Sodium Hydroxide
  • Products: Salicylaldehyde

Williamson Ether Synthesis

• Mnemonic: "RON-A-RX"
• Reactants: Sodium Alkoxide (RONa), Alkyl Halide (RX)
• Products: Ether

Stephen Reduction

• Reactants: Alkyl Cyanide (RCN), Stannous Chloride (SnCl2), HCl, Water
• Products: Aldehyde

Etard Reaction

• Mnemonic: "Tolene + Elon Musk"
• Reactants: Toluene, Chromium Oxide (CrO2Cl2)
• Products: Benzaldehyde

Hofmann Bromamide Reaction

• Reactants: Amide, Bromine, Sodium Hydroxide
• Products: Amine

Friedel-Crafts Alkylation and Acylation

• Alkylation:
  • Reactants: Benzene, Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3), Alkyl Halide
  • Products: Alkyl Benzene
• Acylation:
  • Reactants: Benzene, Acyl Chloride
  • Products: Ketone

Carbylamine Reaction

• Reactants: Chloroform, Primary Amine, Sodium Hydroxide
• Products: Isocyanide

Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) Reaction

• Reactants: Carboxylic Acids, Phosphorus, Chlorine
• Products: Alpha-halo acids

Clemmensen and Wolff-Kishner Reductions

• Clemmensen Reduction:
  • Reactants: Ketone, Zinc amalgam, Hydrochloric acid
  • Products: Alkane
• Wolff-Kishner Reduction:
  • Reactants: Ketone, Hydrazine, Potassium Hydroxide
  • Products: Alkane

Gattermann–Koch Reaction

• Reactants: Benzene, Carbon Monoxide (CO), HCl, AlCl3
• Products: Benzaldehyde