Basic Organic Chemistry

Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones

Most of the reactions of aldehydes and ketones can be classified as:

1. Addition to carbonyl by strong (irreversible) or weak (reversible) nucleophiles

2. Addition to carbonyl followed by an elimination (RNH2 and Wittig)

3. Reaction at alpha carbon with an electrophile

1. Addition to Carbonyl

2. Addition to Carbonyl Followed by Elimination (for RNH2 and ROH Excess)

3. Wittig Reaction (also an Addition-Elimination)

4. Reaction at alpha Carbon

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