In the following posts, we will learn about the main reactions of alcohols. Each post is accompanied by practice problems of alcohol reactions to show the transformations and their corresponding mechanisms. The practice problems include simple one-step transformations such as the preparation of alcohols by reductions reactions of carbonyl compounds using NaBH4, LiAlH4, Pd/C, DIBAL-H and many more, as well as the oxidation of the alcohols to convert them into aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids depending on the reagent that is used. All the major oxidizing agents such as Na2Cr2O7/ H2SO4, H2CrO4, CrO3/ H+, KMnO4/ -OH/ H+, NaClO/AcOH. will also be discussed.
We will also discuss in detail how alcohols react in substitution and elimination reactions. This will include the reactions where alcohols are used as a substrate and also reactions where they work as the base and the nucleophile.
The Grignard Reaction used for the synthesis of alcohols and in general, the application of the Grignard Reaction in Organic Synthesis is also covered in many examples. To be used in organic synthesis, the hydroxyl group often needs to be protected in the presence of strong bases like organometallics. The protecting groups of alcohols and strategies for their use organic synthesis are also covered with a handful of practice problems.
How to Convert the OH into a Leaving Group In many cases, when students are asked to convert an alcohol to an alkyl halide, they would use the corresponding halide and show the reaction with an SN2 mechanism:The result is … Read more
