Keto-Enol Tautomerism
An extensive introduction to keto-enol tautomerism in aldehydes and ketones, with mechanisms, quizzes, key concepts, references and more.
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The Michael Addition Reaction and Conjugate Addition
The Michael Addition Reaction (and Conjugate Addition) The Michael reaction (sometimes “Michael Addition”) is the addition of an enolate to an electrophilic alkene, such as
Read moreAn Exercise In Mind Reading?
The other day while going through Claisen condensations with a student, we came upon this pretty typical problem: The student duly deprotonated the alpha carbon
Read moreReagent Friday: Lithium Di-isopropyl Amide (LDA)
Lithium Diisopropyl Amide (LDA), A Strong, Sterically Hindered Base In a blatant plug for the Reagent Guide, each Friday I profile a different reagent that is
Read moreThe Robinson Annulation
The Robinson Annulation The Robinson Annulation is the name for a process that combines two key reactions you’ve learned previously into one longer sequence. The
Read moreHaloform Reaction
The Haloform Reaction When a methyl ketone is treated with base and a halogen (e.g. I2, Br2, or Cl2) it is converted into a carboxylic
Read moreSummary Sheet #3: Reactions of Carbonyls – The Big Picture
The reason why I harp on organic chemistry as boiling down to “nucleophile attacks electrophile” is because it’s a greatly simplifying way to look at
Read moreSummary Sheet #2: Enols and Enolates
Here’s the second summary sheet I’ve put together. It covers enol and enolate chemistry, although more of the fundamental material rather than their reactions. Although
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