Summary Of Organic Reactions, AQA, A2 Chemistry

SUMMARY OF ORGANIC REACTIONS

Aldehydes and Keytones
oxidation (aldheydes only): aldehyde → carboxylic acid
reagents: potassium dichromate in sulphuric acid
conditions: warm under reflux
observation: orange to green
mechanism: n/a

To distinguish between aldehydes and keytones:
either:
add fehlings solution and heat
observation: blue solution to brick red precipitate
or:
add tollens' reagent and heat
observation: colourless solution to silver mirror  

reduction: carbonyl →  alcohol
reagents: NaBH4 (aq) 
conditions: room temperature
mechanism: nucleophilic addition  

addition of HCN: carbonyl →  hydroxynitrile
reagents: NaCN and HCl (aq)
conditions: room temperature
mechanism: nucleophilic addition    

Carboxylic Acids and their Salts
1, acid-base
a) carboxylic acids with sodium hydroxide
reagent: NaOH
conditions: room temperature
mechanism: n/a  

b) carboxylic acids with sodium carbonate
reagent: Na2CO3
conditions: room temperature
mechanism: n/a  

2. esterification
reagents: any alcohol, concentrated sulphuric acid catalyst
mechanism: nucleophilic addition/ elimination (not required)    

Esters
hydrolysis
a) acid hydrolysis
reagents: concentrated H2SO4
conditions: heat under reflux
mechanism: n/a  

b) alkaline hydrolysis (saponification)
reagent: NaOH (aq)
conditions: heat under…