of oxygen atoms.
Good reducing agents have low electronegativities and ionization energies or contain a hydride
ion (H–). Examples include sodium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, sodium hydride (NaH), calcium
dihydride (CaH 2 ), lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH 4 ), and sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ). These
compounds often contain a metal and a large number of hydrides.
Carbon dioxide, carboxylic acid, ketone, alcohol, methane4.4
The two reactive centers are the carbonyl carbon, which is electrophilic, and the α-hydrogens,
which are acidic.
SN1 reactions are most likely to occur on tertiary carbons where a carbocation can be most
easily stabilized.
SN2 reactions are most like to occur on methyl or primary carbons because these reactions are
easily inhibited by steric hindrance.
4.5
Know your nomenclature;
Identify the functional groups;
Identify the other reagents;
Identify the most reactive functional group(s);
Identify the first step of the reaction;
Consider stereoselectivityIf there are no reagents other than the reactants, then the properties of the functional groups
on the reactants themselves (acid–base; nucleophile–electrophile) will determine the outcome.