Reagents

Question 1

Silver Nitrate

AgNO₃

Answer 1

• Silver nitrate will react with alkyl halides to form silver halides and the corresponding carbocation.
• When a nucleophilic solvent such as water or an alcohol is used, this can result in an SN1 reaction.
• It can also react in the Tollens reaction to give carboxylic acids from aldehydes.

Question 2

Silver Oxide

Ag₂O

Answer 2

• Silver oxide is used in the Tollens reaction to oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids.
• This is the basis of a test for the presence of aldehydes, since a mirror of Ago will be deposited on the flask. It is also used as the base in the Hoffman elimination.

Question 3

AIBN

(2-methylpropionitrile)

Answer 3

• Free radical initiator.
• Upon heating, AIBN decomposes to give nitrogen gas and two free radicals.

Question 4

Aluminum Bromide

AlBr₃

Answer 4

• Used for/as: Lewis acid, promoter for electrophilic aromatic substitution

Question 5

Aluminum Chloride

AlCl₃

Answer 5

• strong Lewis acid.
• It can be used to catalyze the chlorination of aromatic compounds, as well as Friedel-Crafts reactions.

Question 6

Boron Trifluroide

BF₃

Answer 6

• strong Lewis acid.
• Commonly used for the formation of thioacetals from ketones (or aldehydes) with thiols. The product is a thioacetal

Question 7

Borane

BH₃

Answer 7

used for the hydroboration of alkenes and alkynes

Question 8

CH₃OH

Answer 8

S_N1/E1

Polar Protic

Question 9

DMSO

Answer 9

S_N2

Polar Aprotic

Question 10

DMF

Answer 10

S_N2

Polar Aprotic