Gang. jOeCHEMists. Now that we've made good friends with conjugation, aromaticity, and benzene, we're going to shift our focus elsewhere to some old, familiar friends: carbonyls (specifically ketones and aldehydes). We're going to learn a lot of reactions in this series. We're going to learn a lot of mechanisms in this series. There is a lot of information. In. This. Series. My biggest piece of advice is to practice the mechanisms (forward and reverse direction) and truly understand the concepts going on. Taking a memorization approach will have you lost in a sea of acetals, imines, enamines, etc. But don't worry: This is manageable, and the chemistry is wicked cool.
https://joechem.io/videos/31 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we take a quick trip down functional group memory lane and talk about carbonyls in depth.
https://joechem.io/videos/32 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we go through Hydrate Formation from a carbonyl, both the forward and reverse directions. Trust me when I say knowing both directions like the back of your hand will pay dividends come test time.
https://joechem.io/videos/33 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we go through Acetal Formation from a carbonyl, both the forward and reverse directions. Just like hydrate formation, trust me when I say knowing both directions like the back of your hand will pay dividends come test time.
https://joechem.io/videos/34 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we'll look at imine formation in the forward and reverse direction (and yes, I know it's a drag, but you need to be a pro at the reverse and forward mechanisms).
https://joechem.io/videos/35 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we go through Enamine Formation from a carbonyl, both the forward and reverse reaction directions. I know it's a pain, but know BOTH directions like the back of your hand (and if you don't know the back of your hand, get well acquainted, and then learn this reaction that well).
https://joechem.io/videos/36 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we take a look at Cyanohydrin Formation in both the forward and reverse direction. While slightly different than the previous carbonyl mechanisms we've handled, this reaction is an easy one, I promise.
https://joechem.io/videos/131 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we explore thioacetals, what they are, why they are useful, and how they are (basically) the same as acetals, but not quite. We'll step through the forwards and backwards mechanism, as well as do an example where a thioacetal proves useful (and where an acetal would fall short). If you haven't though about acetals in a hot minute, revisiting that video here on jOeCHEM may not be a bad idea (linked below). Acetals video: https://joechem.io/videos/33
https://joechem.io/videos/37 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link) In this video, we take a look at the Wolff-Kishner reaction, mechanism, and a few complete the reaction questions. In my experience, this tends to be a reaction you need to know how to predict the product with, but I think the mechanism is hecking cool. So buckle up, because the reduction train is leaving the station. I've re-made this video (much better, in my opinion), but if you're looking for the original one, it's linked here: https://youtu.be/ctqHCpwWiaE
https://joechem.io/videos/38 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we talk about the Wittig Reaction and dissect it so we can confidently predict the product of Wittig rxns.
https://joechem.io/videos/126 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link). In this video, we talk about the Wittig Reaction AGAIN. Luckily, based on what we learned in our introduction to the Wittig Rxn (https://joechem.io/videos/38) this is a just a bit of extra knowledge. Some, not all, teachers include this topic, so I wanted to make a video to ensure all you jOeCHEMists out there are armed and dangerous with Wittig knowledge.
https://joechem.io/videos/127 for video on jOeCHEM and attached worksheet + solution (below video on jOeCHEM aka the link) In this video, we talk about the Baeyer Villiger Oxidation. We'll step through the mechanism, talk about migratory aptitude, and do some complete the reaction questions.