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Chemca - Chemistry Made Easy | JEE, NEET & Board Exam Prep

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Exam Master Review Sheet - Reaction Mechanism

Exam Master Review Sheet - Reaction Mechanism

CHEMCA

EXAM MASTER REVIEW SHEET

Organic Reaction Mechanisms

Core Pathways for JEE Main, Advanced & NEET

1. Reagents & Bond Fission

Electrophiles ($E^+$)

Electron deficient species (Lewis Acids).

Examples: $H^+, Cl^+, NO_2^+, AlCl_3, BF_3$

Nucleophiles ($Nu^-$)

Electron rich species (Lewis Bases).

Examples: $OH^-, CN^-, NH_3, H_2O$

Bond Fission Types

Homolytic:

$A-B \to A^\bullet + B^\bullet$ (Forms Free Radicals)

Favored by: Light ($h\nu$), Heat, Peroxide.


Heterolytic:

$A-B \to A^+ + B^-$ (Forms Ions)

Favored by: Polar Solvents.

2. Nucleophilic Substitution ($S_N1$ vs $S_N2$)

Feature $S_N1$ $S_N2$
Kinetics Unimolecular, Rate $= k[RX]$ Bimolecular, Rate $= k[RX][Nu^-]$
Mechanism 2-step (via Carbocation) 1-step (Transition State)
Stereochemistry Racemization Walden Inversion
Substrate Reactivity $3^\circ > 2^\circ > 1^\circ > \text{methyl}$ $\text{methyl} > 1^\circ > 2^\circ > 3^\circ$
Solvent Polar Protic ($H_2O, EtOH$) Polar Aprotic ($DMSO, DMF$)

3. Elimination Mechanisms ($E1, E2$)

Saytzeff Rule (Zaitsev)

The major product is the more substituted (more stable) alkene.

Favored by: Small bases, standard leaving groups.

Hofmann Rule

The major product is the less substituted alkene.

Favored by: Bulky bases ($t$-BuOK), Poor leaving groups ($F^-$).

Elimination vs Substitution:

High Temperature + Strong/Bulky Base $\implies$ Elimination

Low Temperature + Strong Nucleophile $\implies$ Substitution

4. Electrophilic Addition ($Ad_E$)

Markovnikov's Rule

Negative part of the addendum goes to the carbon with fewer hydrogen atoms.

Reason: Formation of more stable carbocation.

Kharasch Effect (Anti-Mk)

Only for HBr in presence of Peroxide.

Mechanism: Free Radical Addition.

5. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution ($S_EAr$)

Reaction Reagents Electrophile
Nitration Conc. $HNO_3$ + Conc. $H_2SO_4$ $NO_2^+$
Sulphonation Fuming $H_2SO_4$ (Oleum) $SO_3$ (Neutral)
Friedel-Crafts Alkylation $R-Cl$ + anhyd. $AlCl_3$ $R^+$
Activating Groups ($o/p$ directing):
$-OH, -NH_2, -OR, -R$ (Alkyl)
Deactivating Groups ($m$ directing):
$-NO_2, -CN, -CHO, -COOH$
*Halogens are deactivating but $o/p$ directing.*

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