Alcohols
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Ether
Ether is the general name for a class of chemical compounds which contain a ether group - an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups.
Ether is the general name for a class of chemical compounds which contain a ether group - an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups.
Nucleophilic substitution
Nucleophilic substitution is a fundamental class of substitution reaction in which an electron rich nucleophile selectively bonds with or attacks the positive charge of a group or atom called the leaving group.
Nucleophilic substitution is a fundamental class of substitution reaction in which an electron rich nucleophile selectively bonds with or attacks the positive charge of a group or atom called the leaving group.
Dehydration reaction
A dehydration reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecule.
A dehydration reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecule.
Esterification
Esterification is the general name for a chemical reaction in which two chemicals, such as an alcohol and an acid, form an ester as the reaction product.
Esterification is the general name for a chemical reaction in which two chemicals, such as an alcohol and an acid, form an ester as the reaction product.
Alkoxide
An alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol.
An alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol.
Fischer esterification
Fischer esterification is the process of forming an ester by refluxing a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Fischer esterification is the process of forming an ester by refluxing a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst.
Epoxide
An epoxide is a cyclic ether with only three ring atoms.
An epoxide is a cyclic ether with only three ring atoms.
Williamson ether synthesis
The Williamson ether synthesis involves the reaction of an alkoxide ion with a primary alkyl halide via an SN2 reaction.
The Williamson ether synthesis involves the reaction of an alkoxide ion with a primary alkyl halide via an SN2 reaction.
Thionyl chloride
Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound often used in chlorination reactions in which sulfur is bound to an oxygen and two chlorine atoms.
Thionyl chloride is an inorganic compound often used in chlorination reactions in which sulfur is bound to an oxygen and two chlorine atoms.
Phosphorus tribromide
Phosphorus tribromide is widely used in the laboratory for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl bromides.
Phosphorus tribromide is widely used in the laboratory for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl bromides.
Transesterification
Transesterification is the process of exchanging the alkoxy group of an ester compound by another alcohol.
Transesterification is the process of exchanging the alkoxy group of an ester compound by another alcohol.
Jones oxidation
The Jones oxidation is a chemical reaction described as the chromic acid oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to carboxylic acids and ketones, respectively.
The Jones oxidation is a chemical reaction described as the chromic acid oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to carboxylic acids and ketones, respectively.
Crown ether
Crown ethers are heterocyclic chemical compounds that, in their simplest form, are cyclic oligomers of ethylene oxide.
Crown ethers are heterocyclic chemical compounds that, in their simplest form, are cyclic oligomers of ethylene oxide.
Swern oxidation
The Swern oxidation is a chemical reaction whereby a primary or secondary alcohol is oxidized to an aldehyde or ketone using oxalyl chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and an organic base, such as triethylamine.
The Swern oxidation is a chemical reaction whereby a primary or secondary alcohol is oxidized to an aldehyde or ketone using oxalyl chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and an organic base, such as triethylamine.
Guerbet reaction
The Guerbet reaction is an organic reaction converting a primary aliphatic alcohol into its beta-alkylated dimer alcohol with loss of one equivalent of water.
The Guerbet reaction is an organic reaction converting a primary aliphatic alcohol into its beta-alkylated dimer alcohol with loss of one equivalent of water.
Chugaev elimination
The Chugaev elimination is a chemical reaction involving a xanthate intermediate that carries out the elimination of water from primary alcohols to produce terminal alkenes.
The Chugaev elimination is a chemical reaction involving a xanthate intermediate that carries out the elimination of water from primary alcohols to produce terminal alkenes.
