OCR A LEVEL CHEMISTRY (H432) ORGANIC SYNTHESIS - SYNTHETIC ROUTES STUDT GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST 2025

OCR A LEVEL CHEMISTRY (H432)
ORGANIC SYNTHESIS - SYNTHETIC
ROUTES STUDT GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST 2025




Haloalkane (R-X) → Nitrile (R-C≡N) - CORRECT ANSWER-KCN
(potassium cyanide) (or NaCN) in ethanol



Nucleophilic Substitution



Haloalkane (R-X) → Amine (R-NH₂) - CORRECT ANSWER-NH₃
(ammonia) in ethanol



Carboxylic acid (R-COOH) → Ester (R-COO-R') - CORRECT
ANSWER-Alcohol (R'-OH)

concentrated H₂SO₄ catalyst

, Esterification



Primary Alcohol (R-CH₂OH) → Aldehyde (R-CHO) - CORRECT
ANSWER-Distil with K₂Cr₂O₇/H₂SO₄ (acidified potassium dichromate)



Primary Alcohol (R-CH₂OH) → Carboxylic acid (R-COOH) - CORRECT
ANSWER-Reflux with K₂Cr₂O₇/H₂SO₄ (acidified potassium
dichromate)

Uses two molecules of oxidising agent ([O]), produces one molecule of
H₂O



Secondary Alcohol (R-CH(OH)-R') → Ketone (R-C(O)-R') - CORRECT
ANSWER-Reflux with K₂Cr₂O₇/H₂SO₄ (acidified potassium
dichromate)

Byproduct: H₂O



Alkane → Haloalkane (R-X) - CORRECT ANSWER-Halogen (X₂)

Ultraviolet light (UV)



Free radical substitution