Types of Reactions in Organic Chemistry

Organic reactions are reactions that occur between organic compounds. The reactions in organic chemistry are broadly classified into six categories. Let us study in detail these different types of reactions and their products.

Substitution Reactions

R-X + Y → R-Y +X

Where R-X is the substrate, Y is the reagent (which can be electrophilic or nucleophilic), and X is called the leaving group. The term substitution means one group is replacing the other group.

Types of Substitution Reaction:

1. Nucleophilic Substitution ( S_N1, S_N2, S_Ni)
2. Electrophilic Substitution (S_E)
3. Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution (S_NAr)
4. Addition Reactions

Addition reactions can be further classified into:

1. Electrophilic Addition
2. Nucleophilic Addition
3. Elimination Reactions

Elimination Reactions

These reactions can be said to be the reverse of an addition reaction, wherein a simple molecule (HX, H₂O) is removed from the substrate, i.e., a molecule is said to be eliminated from the substrate. Elimination reaction can be classified further into E1, E2, and E1CB.

1. Oxidation and reduction reactions
2. Pericyclic reactions
3. Molecular rearrangements