Organic Mechanisms Menu
Free Radical Reactions
Free radical substitution reactions in alkanes and alkyl groups. Free radical addition during the polymerisation of ethene and the reaction between HBr and alkenes in the presence of organic peroxides.
Electrophilic Addition Reactions
Addition reactions of alkenes such as ethene and propene.
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions
Substitution reactions of benzene and other simple arenes.
Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions
Substitution reactions of halogenoalkanes such as bromoethane.
Elimination Reactions
The formation of alkenes from halogenoalkanes such as 2-bromopropane, and from the dehydration of alcohols.
Nucleophilic Addition Reactions
Addition reactions of carbonyl compounds such as ethanal and propanone.
Nucleophilic Addition / Elimination Reactions
The reactions of acyl chlorides (acid chlorides) with water, alcohols, ammonia and amines.
Mechanisms Described Elsewhere
These are discussed in a section on acid catalysis in organic chemistry.
Hydration of ethene to make ethanol The esterification reaction The acid catalysed hydrolysis of esters