Organic Chemistry : Reactions by Product

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

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Example Questions

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Example Question #2 : Help With Carboxylic Acid Synthesis

Please choose the best answer for the following question.

Which of the following reagents is best for converting a primary alcohol to a carboxylic acid?

Possible Answers:

 (cold and dilute)

 and 

PCC

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is the only strong oxidizing agent listed. It is strong enough to oxidize the primary alcohol even further to a carboxylic acid product. The rest of the compounds listed are weak oxidizing agents or reducing agents.

Example Question #1 : Electrophilic Addition

What is the product of a hydroboration–oxidation reaction with 1-hexylcyclohexene?

Possible Answers:

Cyclohexane

3-hexylcyclohexanol

2-hexylcyclohexanol

1-hexylcyclohexanol

Hexylcyclohexane

Correct answer:

2-hexylcyclohexanol

Explanation:

This reaction is an electrophilic addition reaction with an alkene. This is one of many alkene addition reactions that can add an -OH group onto your starting material. The key aspect of an hydroboration-oxidation reaction is the anti-Markovinikov addition to the double bond. The -OH group should be on the least substituted of the two carbons that originate from the double bond. In light of this information, the answer is 2-cyclohexanol.

Example Question #1 : Help With Alcohol Synthesis

2butanone

What is the product when the given starting compound is reacted with lithium aluminum hydride and acid?

Possible Answers:

1-butanol

No reaction will occur

1-butanone

2-butanol

2-butanone

Correct answer:

2-butanol

Explanation:

This reaction involves a very strong reducing agent in lithium aluminum hydride, . LAH converts ketones, aldehydes, esters, and acid chlorides into alcohols. This reaction changes the carbonyl group into a hydroxyl group. As a result, the final answer is 2-butanol.

Example Question #31 : Reactions By Product

What reagents are required to efficiently form a tertiary alcohol with two of the same substituents in only two steps?

Possible Answers:

An ester reacted with 1) RMgBr and 2) H3O+

An ester reacted with 1) 2RMgBr and 2) H3O+

An ester reacted with 1) 2RLi and 2) NH3

An acid chloride reacted with 1) 2RMgBr and 2) hexane

An ester reacted with: 1) excess ethanol and 2) H3O+

Correct answer:

An ester reacted with 1) 2RMgBr and 2) H3O+

Explanation:

This is an example of a Grignard reaction that requires the use of an ester or acid chloride, and more than one equivalent of an organometallic. The second step would be to react the product of the first step in an acidic source.

Example Question #1 : Other Carbonyl Chemistry

When butanoic acid undergoes the Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) reaction, the final product is __________.

Possible Answers:

heptanoic acid

None of the other answers

3-bromobutanoic acid

butanoyl bromide

2-bromobutanoic acid

Correct answer:

2-bromobutanoic acid

Explanation:

In the HVZ reaction of a carboxylic acid, a bromine is added to the alpha carbon. Phosphorus catalyzes the reaction and allows for the formation of an acyl halide. Acyl halides readily undergo enol-ketone tautomerization. The enol form uses electrons from the carbon-carbon double bond to bond to the bromine. In water, the two bromine molecules convert back to a carboxylic acid with one bromine on the alpha carbon.

Example Question #1 : Help With Other Carbonyl Products

Noname01

What is the product of the given reaction?

Possible Answers:

Noname02

Noname01

Noname01

Noname02

Noname03

Correct answer:

Noname01

Explanation:

This question tests knowledge on carboxylic acid derivatives and the formation of the carboxylic acid derivatives. , or thionyl chloride, reacts with a carboxylic acid to form an acid chloride. The choice that replaces the  with a . The reaction also expels .

Example Question #31 : Reactions By Product

Which combination of starting material and reagent will produce the product shown?

Screen shot 2015 11 15 at 11.19.43 am

Possible Answers:

Pentanedioic acid and 

5-hydroxyvaleric acid and 

5-hydroxyvaleric acid and 

4-hydroxybutyric acid and 

4-hydroxybutyric acid and 

Correct answer:

5-hydroxyvaleric acid and 

Explanation:

5-hydroxyvaleric acid (5-hydroxypentanoic acid) is a five-carbon carboxylic acid alcohol and will produce the required lactone. This reaction is typically acid-catalyzed. Pentanedioic acid (glutaric acid) is a linear dicarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid only has four carbons and will not produce the desired product without being modified.

Example Question #1 : Help With Amine Synthesis

A secondary alkyl halide is treated with , then , then acid. The final product is __________.

Possible Answers:

a primary amine

a secondary amine

None of the other answers

an amide

phthalimide

Correct answer:

a primary amine

Explanation:

The  group replaces the halogen as the halogen is a better leaving group. Lithium aluminum hydride is a strong reducing agent. It takes nitrogen-nitrogen bonds and allows for nitrogen hydrogen bonds to be formed instead. A primary nitrogen is bonded to two hydrogens and one R group. After reduction, a primary amine is formed.

Example Question #1 : Amino Products

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.37.18 pm

What product would be obtained for the acid catalyzed reaction shown above?

Possible Answers:

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.42.00 pm

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.45.53 pm

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.43.04 pm

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.42.32 pm

Correct answer:

Screen shot 2015 12 29 at 6.42.00 pm

Explanation:

The reaction given is for the nucleophilic addition of a secondary amine to a ketone. Below is the mechanism for this acid catalyzed reaction:

Screen shot 2015 12 31 at 11.33.07 am

The protonation of the hydroxyl group makes it a better leaving group.

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