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SN1 reaction
A substitution reaction where the rate-determining step involves a single molecule in the transition state.
SN2 reaction
A bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction where the nucleophile attacks the substrate from the opposite side of the leaving group.
E1 reaction
An elimination reaction where the rate-determining step involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate.
E2 reaction
A bimolecular elimination reaction that occurs in a single concerted step.
What is Markovnikov's rule?
In electrophilic addition reactions to alkenes, the hydrogen atom bonds to the carbon with more hydrogen substituents, while the halide bonds to the carbon with fewer hydrogen substituents.
Anti-Markovnikov addition
An addition reaction where the substituent is added to the less substituted carbon of the double bond.
Carbocation stability order
Tertiary > Secondary > Primary > Methyl
What is a Grignard reagent?
An organomagnesium compound typically used for nucleophilic addition reactions, represented as RMgX, where R is an organic group and X is a halogen.
Hydroboration-oxidation
A two-step reaction sequence that converts alkenes into alcohols with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity.
Epoxide
A three-membered cyclic ether with significant angle strain.
What is the major product of the Diels-Alder reaction?
A cyclohexene derivative formed from the reaction of a conjugated diene and a dienophile.
Aromaticity
A property of cyclic, planar structures with delocalized pi electrons following Hückel's rule (4n + 2 pi electrons).
Hückel's rule
A rule stating that a molecule is aromatic if it has $4n + 2$ pi electrons, where n is a non-negative integer.
What distinguishes a nucleophile from an electrophile?
A nucleophile donates an electron pair, while an electrophile accepts an electron pair during chemical reactions.
Tautomerization
The chemical process where isomers (tautomers) interconvert, typically involving keto-enol tautomerism.
Why are tertiary alcohols resistant to oxidation?
Tertiary alcohols lack a hydrogen atom on the carbon bonded to the hydroxyl group, preventing the formation of a double bond necessary for oxidation.
Zaitsev's rule
In elimination reactions, the more substituted alkene (more stable) is usually the major product.
What is a stereoisomer?
Compounds with the same molecular formula and connectivity but different spatial arrangements of atoms.
Chiral center
A carbon atom bonded to four different groups, leading to non-superimposable mirror images.
Enantiomers
Stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
Diastereomers
Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other.
What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
A catalyst lowers the activation energy of a reaction, increasing the reaction rate without being consumed.
Friedel-Crafts alkylation
An electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction where an alkyl group is introduced to an aromatic ring.
Friedel-Crafts acylation
An electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction where an acyl group is introduced to an aromatic ring.
What is the mechanism of an aldol condensation?
A reaction where an enolate ion attacks a carbonyl group, followed by dehydration to form a conjugated enone.
What is a Lewis acid?
A compound that can accept an electron pair to form a covalent bond.
What is a Lewis base?
A compound that can donate an electron pair to form a covalent bond.
Claisen condensation
A reaction involving the condensation of two ester molecules in the presence of a strong base to form a β-keto ester.
Michael addition
A 1,4-addition reaction of a nucleophile to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.
What is a meso compound?
A compound with multiple stereocenters that is superimposable on its mirror image due to an internal plane of symmetry.
What is the role of an oxidizing agent?
An oxidizing agent accepts electrons and is reduced during a chemical reaction.
What is the role of a reducing agent?
A reducing agent donates electrons and is oxidized during a chemical reaction.
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