Organic Chemistry

Reaction Mechanisms

# Example: SN1 vs SN2 reaction analysis
def reaction_type(substrate, nucleophile, solvent):
    """
    Determine likely mechanism.
    """
    # SN2: Primary alkyl halide, strong nucleophile, polar aprotic
    if substrate in ['methyl', 'primary'] and nucleophile == 'strong':
        return 'SN2'
    
    # SN1: Tertiary alkyl halide, weak nucleophile, polar protic
    elif substrate == 'tertiary' and nucleophile == 'weak':
        return 'SN1'
    
    # E2: Strong base, anti-periplanar H
    elif nucleophile == 'strong_base':
        return 'E2'
    
    return 'mixture'

Stereochemistry

• Chiral centers
• Enantiomers vs diastereomers
• R/S configuration
• E/Z isomerism (alkenes)
• Meso compounds
• Optical activity

Synthesis Strategies

• Retrosynthetic analysis
• Functional group transformations
• Protecting groups
• Carbon-carbon bond formation
• Oxidation/reduction
• Stereocontrol