COURSE CODE: CHE 222

UNITS: 2
COURSE TITLE: Selected Topics in Chemistry for
non-major
Course Lecturer: Dr. Siyanbola T.O
(Chemistry Department)

Basic Organic
Reactions
Chemical reactions involving the use of
organic compounds as reactants are called
organic reactions.

Addition reactions
Substitution reactions
Elimination reaction
Redox reaction
Photochemical reactions

Addition Reactions: are reactions where two molecules

react to form a single molecule as product. Addition
reaction occurs primarily at the double or triple bonds of
an organic compound. At the alkenes carbon to carbon
double bond position for example, the weak pie bond is
broken and two new sigma bonds are formed.

Also, alkynes undergo addition reactions, the triple

unsaturated bonds undergo double addition reactions
before having all it bonds saturated.

The C=C functional group of cyclohexene undergo addition

reaction when strong Brnsted acids such as HI, HBr, HCl and
H2SO4, rapidly combine its C=C functional group.

Mechanism of electrophilic addition: the presence of an

electrophile (A+) drives the formation of a carbocation in the
first step. For the second step in electrophilic reaction, the
carbocation combine with the electron rich specie usually an
anion (B-).

Mechanism of nucleophilic addition: electron deficient,

electrophilic double or triple bond, chemical compounds reacts
with electron rich reactant specie. This leads to the
disappearance of the double bond and formation of new sigma
or single bonds.

This type of chemical reaction is known as 1,2-nucleophilic

addition.
Free radical addition: this reaction is initiated by a free
radical. The addition may occur between a free radical and a
non-radical, the two reacting species may be radicals. The
following are the reaction steps involved in free radical:

Chain initiation: creation of free radical specie.

Chain propagation: radical react with non-radical specie and a
new radical if formed.
Chain termination: combination of two radicals, new nonradical compound is formed.
Initiation step:

Propagation step:

Termination step:

Elimination Reaction: this reaction involves the removal of

two substituent from a molecule in a stepwise process. When a
step is involved the mechanism is called E2 reaction, but if
two steps mechanism is involved it is called E1 reaction.