Frequently Asked Question

Here are some important named reactions from organic chemistry often covered in class 12, along with their reactions:
1. Wurtz Reaction:
Reaction: 2RX + 2Na → R-R + 2NaX
Description: This reaction involves the coupling of two alkyl halides using sodium metal in dry ether. It's used to form higher alkanes.
2. Friedel-Crafts Alkylation:
Reaction: ArH + RCl/RBr + AlCl3 → Ar-R + HCl/HBr
Description: An aromatic compound (ArH) reacts with an alkyl halide (RCl/RBr) in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst (AlCl3) to introduce an alkyl group to the aromatic ring.
3. Aldol Condensation:
Reaction: 2RCHO → RCH(OH)CH2COR
Description: Two molecules of an aldehyde (RCHO) react in the presence of a base to form a β-hydroxy aldehyde (aldol). This reaction forms a carbon-carbon bond.
4. Cannizzaro Reaction:
Reaction: 2RCHO + OH- → RCH2OH + RCOO-
Description: An aldehyde with no α-hydrogen undergoes disproportionation in the presence of a strong base. One molecule is reduced to an alcohol, while the other is oxidized to a carboxylate.
5. Grignard Reagent:
Reaction: RMgX + R'CHO → R'CH(OH)R
Description: A Grignard reagent (RMgX) reacts with an aldehyde or ketone to form a secondary or tertiary alcohol.
6. Wittig Reaction:
Reaction: RCHO + Ph3P=CHR' → RCH=CHR' + Ph3PO
Description: An aldehyde or ketone reacts with a phosphonium ylide (Ph3P=CHR') to form an alkene. This reaction is very useful for synthesizing alkenes with specific stereochemistry.
7. Diels-Alder Reaction:
Reaction: A diene reacts with a dienophile to form a cyclohexene derivative.
Description: This reaction involves the [4+2] cycloaddition of a conjugated diene and a dienophile. It's a very important reaction in organic synthesis, especially for creating six-membered rings.
8. SN1 and SN2 Reactions:
Description: These are two major types of nucleophilic substitution reactions in organic chemistry. SN1 is a two-step reaction involving the formation of a carbocation intermediate, while SN2 is a one-step reaction with a concerted mechanism.
9. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS):
Description: Aromatic rings can undergo electrophilic substitution reactions where an electrophile (electron-loving species) replaces a hydrogen atom on the ring. This includes reactions like halogenation, nitration, sulfonation, and Friedel-Crafts alkylation/acylation.
These are just a few examples; there are many other important named reactions in organic chemistry.
Let me know if you'd like more detail on any specific reaction!