Alkynes and nitriles are structurally similar, so let’s discuss how we can replace one of the carbons in the alkyne with a nitrogen:   When one of the carbons is replaced, the carbon chain will be shortened by one. … Read more
Remember, earlier, we discussed the Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction, which is used for preparing aryl ketones by reacting aromatic compounds with an acyl halide in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst.   Now, here is a question: how can … Read more
Primary amides can be converted to nitriles by strong dehydrating agents such as SOCl2, P2O5, and POCl3:   Before going into the mechanisms of these reactions. Let’s first address one important question you might be wondering about. Why is … Read more
Preparation of Amides Amides can be prepared from acyl chlorides, esters, and carboxylic acids. The most straightforward should be the reaction with acid chlorides since they are the most reactive carboxylic acid derivatives, and amines are good nucleophiles too. This … Read more
Dehydration of alcohols using phosphorus oxychloride (POCl3) and pyridine (an amine base) in place of H2SO4 or TsOH is a good alternative for converting alcohols to alkenes when working with compounds that decompose in the presence of strong acids: Â … Read more
