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9701 Chemistry · Topics 21 & 35 · AS + A Level

AS Organic Synthesis Reaction Web — A Level Chemistry 9701

Every AS organic conversion on one page, drawn as a web rather than a list. Each arrow carries its reagent and conditions, so you can trace a route from any starting material to any target at a glance — the fastest way to check a synthesis answer before you commit it to the paper.

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9701 Chemistry · Topics 21 & 35 · AS + A Level
Organic Synthesis — Reaction Web

Cl₂ or Br₂ with UV H₂, Ni, 150 °C ⇄ cracking high pressure, catalyst HBr, room temp ↓ ↑ KOH in ethanol, hot steam, H₃PO₄, 300 °C, 60 atm NaOH(aq), warm → ← PCl₅ KCN in ethanol, reflux LiAlH₄ or H₂/Ni excess NH₃, heat K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺, distil off (1°) ↓ ↑ NaBH₄ or LiAlH₄ K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺, reflux (2°) K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺, reflux alcohol, conc. H₂SO₄, reflux ← NaOH(aq), reflux (hydrolysis) PCl₅ dilute HCl, reflux — hydrolysis Alkane R–CH₃ Alkene R–CH=CH₂ Poly(alkene) –(CH₂–CHR)ₙ– Nitrile R–C≡N · one C longer Halogenoalkane R–CH₂–Br Alcohol R–CH₂–OH Ketone R–CO–R′ ALSO FROM THE ALKENE Br₂, room temp → R–CHBr–CH₂Br — the orange‑to‑colourless test for C=C cold dilute KMnO₄ → R–CH(OH)–CH₂OH ALSO FROM THE CARBONYL NaCN with dilute acid → R–CH(OH)–C≡N — one carbon longer, racemic then dilute HCl, reflux → R–CH(OH)–COOH Amine R–CH₂–NH₂ Aldehyde R–CHO Acyl chloride R–COCl · + NH₃ → amide Carboxylic acid R–COOH Ester R–COO–R′ READING THE WEB Solid arrows keep the carbon count. The two routes into the nitrile box add one carbon; so does HCN with an aldehyde. Quote reagent and conditions in every answer.

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Written and reviewed by Fahad H. AhmadChemistry tutor at Mega Lecture · 10M+ lecture views · Book a free trial class

AS Organic Synthesis Reaction Web — A Level Chemistry 9701 — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to revise organic synthesis?

Cover the arrows and try to name the reagent for each conversion from memory, then check. Working through the web in both directions — forwards from a starting material and backwards from a target — builds the recall that synthesis questions depend on.

Does this map cover A2 organic chemistry too?

This web covers the AS conversions. The A2 reaction web, which adds arenes, phenol, acid derivatives, amines and amino acids, is on a separate sheet linked below.

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