Organic Reactions

General Types of Organic Reactions

Substitution

• One group replaces another group. This is common for saturated systems

Elimination

• One molecule generates two molecules. We use this to form unsaturated systems

Addition

• Two molecules become one. Typically form a saturated system from an unsaturated system

Rearrangement

• One molecule rearranges itself into a new constitutional isomer

Nucleophiles and Electrophiles

• Nucleophiles are species which have lone pairs which they can use to form bonds with the electrophile. Examples include $\rm OH^-$$\rm H_2O$ , $\rm NH_2R$, $R_3C^-$. Electrophiles are commonly good bases

• Electrophiles are organic molecules which can accept electrons. Typically this could be a cation or electron deficient center like $H^+$or $R_3C^+$.

• For a substitution reaction an sp3 carbon bound to an electronegative element which can be displaced easily (a leaving group) can also be an electrophile.

• For an addition reaction an alkene acts as the electrophile