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Class 12 Chemistry Named Reactions List for CBSE Boards (With What Each Does)
A complete list of the named reactions in CBSE Class 12 Organic Chemistry, grouped by chapter, with what each reaction does, for quick board revision.
Named reactions come up every year in Class 12 Chemistry, as direct questions, conversions and "give the reaction" questions. Here's what each one does, grouped by chapter. Learn the equation and the conditions from NCERT.
Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
| Reaction | What it does |
|---|---|
| Finkelstein | Alkyl chloride or bromide → alkyl iodide (NaI in dry acetone) |
| Swarts | Alkyl halide → alkyl fluoride (metallic fluorides such as AgF) |
| Wurtz | Two alkyl halides + sodium (dry ether) → alkane |
| Wurtz–Fittig | Alkyl halide + aryl halide + sodium → alkylbenzene |
| Fittig | Two aryl halides + sodium → biphenyl |
| Sandmeyer | Benzene diazonium salt → chloro- or bromobenzene (CuCl/HCl or CuBr/HBr) |
| Gattermann | Diazonium salt → aryl halide using copper powder and HX |
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
| Reaction | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reimer–Tiemann | Phenol → salicylaldehyde (CHCl₃, NaOH) |
| Kolbe's reaction | Sodium phenoxide + CO₂ → salicylic acid |
| Williamson synthesis | Alkyl halide + sodium alkoxide → ether |
Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
| Reaction | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rosenmund reduction | Acyl chloride → aldehyde (H₂, Pd–BaSO₄) |
| Stephen reaction | Nitrile → aldehyde (SnCl₂/HCl, then hydrolysis) |
| Etard reaction | Toluene → benzaldehyde (chromyl chloride) |
| Gattermann–Koch | Benzene → benzaldehyde (CO, HCl, anhydrous AlCl₃) |
| Clemmensen reduction | C=O → CH₂ (Zn–Hg, conc. HCl) |
| Wolff–Kishner reduction | C=O → CH₂ (hydrazine, then KOH in ethylene glycol) |
| Aldol condensation | Aldehydes or ketones with α-H → β-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone |
| Cross aldol | Aldol between two different carbonyl compounds |
| Cannizzaro reaction | Aldehydes without α-H → alcohol + carboxylic acid salt (conc. alkali) |
| HVZ reaction | Carboxylic acid → α-halo acid (X₂, red P) |
| Decarboxylation | Sodium salt of acid + soda lime → alkane |
Amines
| Reaction | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gabriel phthalimide synthesis | Gives pure primary amines |
| Hoffmann bromamide degradation | Amide → primary amine with one fewer carbon |
| Carbylamine reaction | Test for primary amines (CHCl₃, KOH gives a foul-smelling isocyanide) |
| Hinsberg's test | Distinguishes primary, secondary and tertiary amines |
| Diazotisation | Aniline → benzene diazonium chloride (NaNO₂/HCl, 273–278 K) |
| Coupling reaction | Diazonium salt + phenol or aniline → azo dye |
Revision tip
Make one sheet with every reaction written as an equation, then test yourself with conversion questions from previous year papers.
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