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Reactions of Alcohols Overview |
Chapter 15: Alcohols, Diols and Thiols |
Reactions of Alcohols
(overview)
Alcohols are one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry and an appreciation of their reactions is critical to success, particularly in synthesis questions.
Alcohols, R-OH, are able to undergo several different types of reactions:
| Nucleophilic Substitution | -OH acts as the leaving group, or | -OH or -O- can function as the Nu |
| Nucleophilic Addition | -OH acts as the Nu forming acetals | |
| Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution | -OH acts as the Nu forming esters | |
| Elimination | -OH is removed, C=C formed | |
| Oxidation | -OH is converted to C=O |
| Substitution with HX |
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| Substitution by SOCl2 etc. |
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| Conversion
to Tosylates (for further substitution) |
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| Conversion to Ethers |
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| Conversion to Esters |
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| Acid catalyzed Dehydration |
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| Oxidation to Carbonyls |
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