C341 Final Exam Study Guide
Fall 2013
General information: 8:00 AM- 10:00 AM on Wed. Dec 18, regular meeting room
Format: 150 points, cumulative, similar format to other exams
Approximate point distributions:
~1/3 mechanism
Draw the mechanism (substitution, elimination, addition,
rearrangements, Grignard, hydride reduction, epoxides)
Answer questions based on mechanisms
~1/3 reagents, reactions
Predict the major product with stereochemistry and regiochemistry
Provide the correct reagents
Multistep synthesis
~1/3 miscellaneous concepts from list of major topics
** The exam is cumulative, with a slight emphasis on material not covered on
previous exams. Therefore, chpaters 13 and 14 will have significant coverage, but
keep in mind that much of these chapters is also cumulative (material covered in
previous chapters.)
**Particular emphasis on sections 8.12-8.14 since they weren’t covered on a
previous exam
Tips for studying:
 Work from the end of the course to the beginning (study backwards)
Emphasize chapters 7-10 and 12-14. Chapters 1-6 were the foundation for these
chapters.
 Print blank discussion problem sets and write full answer before checking key
 Retake old exams and quizzes, then check your answers
 Do practice chapter problems listed under Daily Homework and Additional
Problems
A list of major topics (not all inclusive)
Formal charge, resonance structures, hybridization, bond-line structures, acid/base
equilibria, pKa’s, trends in acidity/basicity, functional groups, alkane nomenclature,
conformational analysis, Newman projections, causes of strain, cyclohexane ring
structures, chiral, achiral, R/S nomenclature, enantiomers, diastereomers, optically active,
meso compounds, arrow mechanisms, transition states, rate limiting steps, activation
barrier, exothermic/endothermic reactions, E/Z nomenclature, addition reactions,
Markovnicov’s rule, anti-marcovnicov product, regiochemistry of additions,
stereochemistry of additions, reactions of alkynes, acidity of terminal alkynes, calculating
change in energy for reaction, Hammond’s postulate, nucleophile, leaving group,
substitution reactions, SN1 mechanism, SN2 mechanism, alkene classifications, alkene
stability, elimination reactions, Zaitsev’s rule, E1 mechanism, E2 mechanism, anti-
periplanar, comparing substitution and elimination mechanisms, synthesis of ethers,
alcohols, and epoxides, dehydration of alcohols, carbocation rearrangements, reactions of
alcohols/ethers/epoxides, multistep synthesis, protecting groups, redox reactions, reagents
for redox reactions, Grignard reaction
1. Mechanisms. These are the very basic types of mechanisms. You should also be able to
explain regiochemistry and stereochemistry outcomes, as well as rearrangements, etc.
2. Structure (formal charge, hybridization, aromatic, resonance, stereochemistry, conformational
analysis)
A. Answer the following questions pertaining to this structure.
O
H
N
A. How many hydrogens? How many lone pairs?
B. Label the structure with any missing formal charges.
C. Draw at least two more resonance structures and rank them from most major
contributor to most minor contributor.
D. Mark all the chiral centers and label any designated chiral centers R or S.
B. Would you expect the elimination of cis-1-t-butyl-4-chlorocyclohexane using a strong base to be
faster or slower than the elimination of chlorocyclohexane with a strong base?
3. Acid/base reactions
For each of the following compounds, circle the most acidic hydrogen. Give an approximate pKa
value. Would this compound be deprotonated by HO-? Would this compound be deprotonated by
H2N-? Draw the conjugate base of each acid.
A.
B.
O
C.
O
OH
O
4. Predict the MAJOR products. Include stereochemistry where needed.