Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids

  • Reaction involving C-H bond
  • Electronegative groups (EWG)
  • Haloform reaction (HVZ reaction)
  • Examples of reactions
  • Common reagents and conditions

Reaction involving C-H bond

  • Aldehydes and ketones can undergo reactions that involve the cleavage of a C-H bond
  • These reactions are important for the synthesis of complex organic compounds
  • Common reactions include oxidation, reduction, and substitution

Electronegative groups (EWG)

  • Electronegative groups, such as nitro (NO2) and cyano (CN), increase the reactivity of aldehydes and ketones
  • They activate the C-H bond towards nucleophilic attack or oxidation reactions
  • This is due to the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents that enhance the polarity of the C-H bond

Haloform reaction (HVZ reaction)

  • The haloform reaction is a method to convert methyl ketones into haloforms (compounds containing a halogen atom)
  • The reaction proceeds in the presence of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH)
  • It involves the successive halogenation and hydrolysis of the methyl ketone

Examples of reactions

  • Oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids using oxidizing agents like potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
  • Reduction of ketones to secondary alcohols using reducing agents like sodium borohydride (NaBH4)
  • Nucleophilic addition reactions with various nucleophiles, such as Grignard reagents and cyanide ions

Common reagents and conditions

  • Oxidation: Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in acidic medium
  • Reduction: Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in alcoholic solvent
  • Nucleophilic addition: Grignard reagents (RMgX) in ether solvent, or cyanide ions (CN-) in the presence of a base
  1. Oxidation of Aldehydes
  • Aldehydes can be oxidized to carboxylic acids
  • This reaction involves the breaking of a C-H bond and the formation of a C-O bond
  • Common oxidizing agents include potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and chromic acid (H2CrO4)
  • Example: Oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid using potassium permanganate
  1. Redox Reaction
  • Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between reactants
  • In oxidation, a species loses electrons and increases its oxidation state
  • In reduction, a species gains electrons and decreases its oxidation state
  • Example: Reduction of acetone to isopropanol using sodium borohydride
  1. Nucleophilic Addition
  • Aldehydes and ketones can undergo nucleophilic addition reactions
  • Nucleophiles attack the electrophilic carbon of the carbonyl group
  • This results in the formation of a new bond to the carbon and breaking of the carbonyl bond
  • Example: Addition of Grignard reagent (RMgX) to a ketone to form an alcohol
  1. Cyanohydrin Formation
  • Cyanohydrin formation is a type of nucleophilic addition reaction
  • It involves the addition of cyanide ion (CN-) to the carbonyl group
  • The reaction results in the formation of a cyanohydrin, which contains a hydroxyl group and a cyano group
  • Example: Formation of cyanohydrin from benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
  1. Aldol Condensation
  • Aldol condensation is a type of nucleophilic addition reaction between two carbonyl compounds
  • It involves the formation of a carbon-carbon bond and the elimination of water
  • The reaction is catalyzed by a base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  • Example: Condensation of acetone and benzaldehyde to form a β-hydroxy ketone
  1. Cannizzaro Reaction
  • The Cannizzaro reaction is a disproportionation reaction of aldehydes
  • It involves the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of the same aldehyde molecule
  • The reaction is often carried out in the presence of a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  • Example: Cannizzaro reaction of benzaldehyde to form benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol
  1. Acidity of Carboxylic Acids
  • Carboxylic acids are weak acids due to the presence of a carboxyl group (COOH)
  • They can donate a proton (H+) to a base
  • The acidity of carboxylic acids increases with the presence of electron-withdrawing groups on the molecule
  • Example: Acetic acid is a weak acid, while trichloroacetic acid is a stronger acid
  1. Esterification
  • Esterification is the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol
  • It involves the formation of an ester and the elimination of water
  • The reaction is often catalyzed by an acid, such as concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
  • Example: Esterification of acetic acid and ethanol to form ethyl acetate
  1. Hydrolysis of Esters
  • Hydrolysis of esters involves the cleavage of the ester bond by water
  • It can be acid-catalyzed or base-catalyzed
  • Acidic hydrolysis forms a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, while basic hydrolysis forms a carboxylate ion and an alcohol
  • Example: Acidic hydrolysis of ethyl acetate to form acetic acid and ethanol
  1. Saponification
  • Saponification is the hydrolysis of esters in the presence of a base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  • It results in the formation of a carboxylate ion and an alcohol
  • Saponification is commonly used in the production of soaps from fats and oils
  • Example: Saponification of triglycerides to form glycerol and soap
  1. Electrophilic Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds
  • α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds have a double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group
  • They undergo electrophilic addition reactions with nucleophiles
  • The nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbon of the carbonyl group, leading to the formation of a new bond
  • Example: Addition of HCl to methyl vinyl ketone to form a chlorohydrin
  1. Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation
  • Baeyer-Villiger oxidation is a reaction that converts ketones into esters or lactones
  • It involves the insertion of an oxygen atom between the carbonyl group and a neighboring carbon
  • The reaction is often carried out using a peroxyacid, such as m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA)
  • Example: Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to form ε-caprolactone
  1. Claisen Condensation
  • Claisen condensation is a reaction between two ester molecules or an ester and a ketone/aldehyde
  • It involves the formation of a carbon-carbon bond and the elimination of an alcohol molecule
  • The reaction is often catalyzed by a base, such as sodium ethoxide (NaOEt)
  • Example: Claisen condensation between ethyl acetate and ethyl propanoate to form ethyl 3-oxobutanoate
  1. Decarboxylation
  • Decarboxylation is the loss of a carbon dioxide molecule from a carboxylic acid or its derivative
  • It is commonly observed in the heating or refluxing of the compounds
  • The reaction leads to the formation of a lower molecular weight compound
  • Example: Decarboxylation of benzoic acid to form benzene
  1. Fischer Esterification
  • Fischer esterification is the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol
  • It involves the formation of an ester and the elimination of water
  • The reaction is catalyzed by an acid, such as concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
  • Example: Fischer esterification of acetic acid and methanol to form methyl acetate
  1. Gabriel Synthesis
  • Gabriel synthesis is a method to prepare primary amines from phthalimide derivatives
  • The reaction involves the nucleophilic substitution of a halogen atom in the phthalimide derivative
  • The resulting intermediate undergoes hydrolysis to give the primary amine
  • Example: Gabriel synthesis of 1-aminobutane from phthalimide
  1. Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) Reaction
  • The Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky (HVZ) reaction is a method to convert carboxylic acids into α-halo acids
  • It involves the bromination of the α-carbon of the carboxylic acid
  • The reaction is carried out in the presence of phosphorus tribromide (PBr3)
  • Example: HVZ reaction of acetic acid to form α-bromoacetic acid
  1. McMurry Reaction
  • The McMurry reaction is a method to synthesize symmetrical or unsymmetrical alkanes
  • It involves the coupling of two carbonyl compounds in the presence of a titanium-based reagent
  • The reaction results in the formation of a carbon-carbon double bond
  • Example: McMurry reaction of acetone and benzaldehyde to form dibenzyl
  1. Oxidative Cleavage
  • Oxidative cleavage is a reaction that breaks a carbon-carbon double bond or a carbon-carbon triple bond
  • It involves the addition of an oxidizing agent, such as ozone or potassium permanganate (KMnO4)
  • The resulting products are aldehydes or ketones, depending on the reaction conditions
  • Example: Oxidative cleavage of cyclohexene to form adipic acid
  1. Arene Diazonium Salts
  • Arene diazonium salts are compounds containing a diazonium group (-N≡N+) attached to an aromatic ring
  • They are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis, capable of undergoing various reactions
  • Examples of reactions include nucleophilic substitution, Sandmeyer reaction, and azo coupling
  • Example: Formation of p-nitrophenol from p-nitroaniline via diazotization and hydrolysis