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16 MECHANISMS

Aldehydes & Ketones

Nucleophilic Addition (Base)

Nucleophilic Addition (Base)

A nucleophile adds directly to the carbonyl.

Nucleophilic Addition (Acid)

Nucleophilic Addition (Acid)

A protonated carbonyl is attacked by a nucleophile.

Hydrate Formation (Base)

Hydrate Formation (Base)

Water adds under base to form a gem-diol.

Hydrate Formation (Acid)

Hydrate Formation (Acid)

Water adds under acid to form a gem-diol.

Acetal Formation

Acetal Formation

An aldehyde plus two alcohols gives an acetal.

Acetal Hydrolysis

Acetal Hydrolysis

Aqueous acid reverts an acetal to the carbonyl.

Imine Formation

Imine Formation

A primary amine condenses to an imine.

Enamine Formation

Enamine Formation

A secondary amine condenses to an enamine.

Wolff–Kishner Reduction

Wolff–Kishner Reduction

A hydrazone reduces the carbonyl to CH2.

Dithioacetal Formation

Dithioacetal Formation

Two thiols convert the carbonyl to a dithiane.

Hydride Additions

Hydride Additions

NaBH4 or LAH reduce the carbonyl to an alcohol.

Grignard + Ketone

Grignard + Ketone

A Grignard reagent gives a tertiary alcohol.

Cyanohydrin Formation

Cyanohydrin Formation

HCN adds to give a cyanohydrin.

Wittig Olefination

Wittig Olefination

An ylide converts the carbonyl into an alkene.

Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation

Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation

A peroxyacid inserts oxygen to form an ester.