Summary All Mechanisms You Need to Know for A-Level Chemistry

Reaction Mechanism Reagents Conditions
Alkane  Halogenoalkane Free radical substitution Br2/Cl2 UV light
Aldehyde/Ketone  Hydroxynitrile Nucleophilic addition KCN (aq), H2SO4
Aldehyde/Ketone  Alcohol Nucleophilic addition/reduction WRITE THIS
Nitrile  Primary Amine Reduction LiAlH4, dry ether +
dilute H2SO4
Dihalogenoalkane  Diol Nucleophilic substitution KOH (aq) Heat, reflux
Halogenoalkane  Alcohol Nucleophilic substitution Warm NaOH (aq) Reflux
Halogenoalkane  Primary amine Nucleophilic substitution WRITE THIS Heat
Halogenoalkane  Nitrile Nucleophilic substitution KCN (aq) in ethanol Reflux
Primary amine  secondary, tertiary amine + Nucleophilic substitution Halogenoalkane Heat
quaternary salt
Alkene  Dihalogenoalkane Electrophilic addition Br2/Cl2
Alkene  Halogenoalkane Electrophilic addition HBr/HCl
Alkene  Alcohol 1) Electrophilic addition/hydration 1) H3PO4 Steam, 300c,
2) Electrophilic addition/hydrolysis 2) H2O, H2SO4 60atm
Ester  Carboxylic acid 1) Acid Hydrolysis 1) Dilute H2SO4, H2O 1) Reflux
2) Base Hydrolysis 2) Dilute NaOH (aq) 2) Reflux
Halogenoalkane  Alkene Elimination KOH, warm ethanol Reflux
Alcohol  Alkene Elimination/dehydration Conc H2SO4
Acyl chloride/acid anhydride  Ester Nucleophilic addition/elimination Alcohol
Acyl chloride/acid anhydride  Carboxylic acid Nucleophilic addition/elimination H2O
Acyl chloride/acid anhydride  Primary amide Nucleophilic addition/elimination NH3
Primary amine  Secondary amide Nucleophilic addition/elimination Acyl chloride
Acyl chlorine/acid anhydride  N-substituted Nucleophilic addition/elimination Primary amine
amide
Alcohol  Ester Esterification Carboxylic acid, conc Heat
H2SO4
Carboxylic acid  Ester Esterification Alcohol, conc H2SO4 Heat
Aldehyde  Carboxylic acid Oxidation K2Cr2O7, H2SO4 Reflux
Alcohol  Carboxylic acid Oxidation K2Cr2O7, H2CO4 Distillation
Alcohol  Aldehyde Partial oxidation K2Cr2O7 Reflux