The organic chemistry that allows the interconversion of the functional groups containing oxygen is very important and will be reviewed and expanded over the next few chapters.

The importance of alcohols as a functional group is emphasized by the fact that although we have already encountered several methods for their preparation, there are still more. In fact, a good understanding of the chemistry of alcohols is important in order to be able to complete synthesis problems efficiently.

A useful sequence to keep in mind is the redox "ladder" between alcohols, carbonyls and carboxylic acids:

(Note the increasing number of    C-O bonds as we go L to R)

Preparations of Alcohols

• Overview
• Hydration of Alkenes (review)
• Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes (review)
• Oxymercuration-Demercuration of Alkenes (review)
• Hydrolysis of Alkyl halides (review)
• Reactions of RLi or RMgX with Aldehydes and Ketones (review)
• Reduction of Aldehydes and Ketones
• Reaction of RLi or RMgX with Esters (review)
• Reduction of Carboxylic Acids and Esters
• Ring opening of Epoxides

• Nomenclature
• Physical Properties
• Structure
• Reactivity
• Preparing Diols

• Overview
• Reaction with HX to give Alkyl Halides (review)
• Reaction with SOCl₂, PX₃ to give Alkyl Halides (review)
• Acid catalyzed Dehydration (review)
• Synthesis of Ethers
• Synthesis of Esters
• Oxidation
• Cleavage of 1,2-Diols

• Thiols, RSH

• Self Assessment

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