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Common Exam Traps

Common Exam Traps - organic chemistry study tip. Watch for: carbocation rearrangements, stereochemistry changes, protecting groups needed, acid/base incompatibility with other functional groups.

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Common Exam Traps

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Watch for: carbocation rearrangements, stereochemistry changes, protecting groups needed, acid/base incompatibility with other functional groups.

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SN1 vs SN2

SN1 vs SN2 - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: SN2: Strong Nucleophile, Secondary or primary. SN2 works best with methyl and 1° substrates (steric hindrance matters). SN1 works best with 3° (carbocation stability matters). 2° can go either way - look at...

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E1 vs E2

E1 vs E2 - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: E2: Everything (H and LG) leaves at the same time. E2 requires anti-periplanar geometry (H and leaving group 180° apart). E1 makes the more stable carbocation first. Bulky bases favor elimination over substitu...

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Zaitsev vs Hofmann Products

Zaitsev vs Hofmann Products - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: Zaitsev = "Z" for "Ze more substituted" alkene. Zaitsev (most substituted alkene) is favored with small bases. Hofmann (less substituted) is favored with bulky bases like KOtBu or with poor...

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Markovnikov's Rule

Markovnikov's Rule - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: Rich get richer: H goes to C with more H's. In electrophilic addition, the electrophile (usually H⁺) adds to the carbon with MORE hydrogens, forming the more stable carbocation on the more substitute...

mechanism

Anti-Markovnikov Addition

Anti-Markovnikov Addition - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: Peroxides promote anti pattern. HBr + peroxides (ROOR) = anti-Markovnikov via radical mechanism. Only works with HBr (not HCl or HI). Hydroboration-oxidation also gives anti-Markovnikov alcoho...

mechanism

Carbocation Stability

Carbocation Stability - organic chemistry study tip. Mnemonic: 3° > 2° > 1° > methyl (like a countdown). More substituted carbocations are more stable due to hyperconjugation and inductive effects. Watch for rearrangements (hydride and methyl shifts) to form...

mechanism

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