Organic reaction mechanisms with curly arrows
Worked mechanisms for the reactions you meet in A-level, Leaving Cert and first-year university organic chemistry. Every step is drawn with curly arrows and explained in plain English. Want a reaction that isn't here? Draw it in the builder and get the mechanism in seconds.
Nucleophilic substitution
Elimination
Electrophilic addition
Electrophilic aromatic substitution
Nucleophilic addition
Nucleophilic acyl substitution
Carbonyl chemistry
- Aldol reaction: base-catalysed addition of ethanalEnolate formation, attack on a second aldehyde, protonation.
- Grignard reaction: methylmagnesium bromide and benzaldehydeCarbon nucleophile adds to C=O, then acid workup gives an alcohol.
- Reduction of propanone with NaBH₄Hydride adds to C=O, then protonation gives a secondary alcohol.