In this article we’ll discuss nucleophilic aromatic substitution, but with a new twist; a nucleophilic aromatic substitution that passes through a strange-looking intermediate called an
Read moreAll About Mutarotation The OH group on C-1 of sugars can have two possible configurations. This gives rise to two stereoisomers (called “anomers”) : the
Read moreThe carbon adjacent to an aromatic ring – the “benzylic” carbon – can participate in several useful and interesting reactions. Today we’ll provide examples and
Read moreThermodynamic vs Kinetic Products In Purchasing Decisions (And Addition To Dienes) A post about getting what you pay for, and how that translates to “kinetic
Read moreThe Wolff-Kishner, Clemmensen, and Other Fun Reductions In this post we go through 4 ways of reducing C=O to CH2 including: The Wolff-Kishner reaction The
Read moreThe Gabriel Synthesis For Making Primary Amines We’ve seen previously that it’s hard to *usefully* build amines through the SN2 reaction, because once amines start
Read moreHere we cover three new reactions of aromatic substituents: reduction of nitro groups to amines, protection of amines as amides, and the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of
Read moreReducing Sugars Reducing sugars are small carbohydrates (usually containing one or two sugar units) that are capable of acting as reducing agents towards metal salts
Read moreTwo More Diene Reactions: Free-Radical Addition of HBr to Dienes, and Addition of Br2 to Dienes In an earlier post we covered 1,2 and 1,4
Read moreThe Simple Two-Step Pattern For Seven Key Reactions Of Aldehydes And Ketones “There are just so many reactions! I can’t remember all the mechanisms!!” – distressed
Read more