Organic synthesis in A-level Chemistry focuses on how chemists convert one organic compound into another,
using known reactions, reagents, conditions, and mechanisms to build multi-step pathways.
Overview
Organic synthesis is the branch of the course where students learn how to make target organic molecules from
simpler starting materials. This includes understanding functional group transformations, choosing suitable reagents,
predicting products, and planning reaction routes.
Key idea: students are expected to design and explain multi-step reaction pathways,
often up to four steps long.
Main Topics Included
Hydrocarbons
Alkanes
Alkenes
Arenes
Halogen & Oxygen Compounds
Halogenoalkanes
Alcohols
Aldehydes
Ketones
Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Carboxylic acids
Esters
Acyl chlorides
Amides
Nitrogen Compounds
Nitriles
Amines
Amino acids
Phenols
Typical Organic Conversions
Alkane to halogenoalkane
Halogenoalkane to alcohol, nitrile, amine, or alkene
Alkene to alcohol or halogenoalkane
Alcohol to alkene, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, or halogenoalkane
Aldehyde or ketone to alcohol
Aldehyde to carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acid to ester or acyl chloride
Nitrile to amine or carboxylic acid
Benzene to nitrobenzene, halogenated benzene, or acylated benzene
Nitro compounds to amines
Reaction Mechanisms Students Should Know
Free-radical substitution
Electrophilic addition
Nucleophilic substitution
Elimination
Nucleophilic addition
Nucleophilic addition-elimination
Electrophilic substitution
Skills Developed
Plan reaction schemes of up to four steps
Select correct reagents and conditions
Recognise functional groups and interconversions
Write and explain reaction mechanisms using curly arrows
Predict products and possible intermediates
Link synthesis with practical and analytical chemistry
Practical Techniques
Heating under reflux
Distillation and steam distillation
Solvent extraction
Recrystallisation
Drying purified products
Testing purity using melting point or boiling point
Analytical Methods
Infrared spectroscopy (IR)
Mass spectrometry
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Chromatography
Exam Board Emphases
AQA
Emphasises green chemistry in synthesis, including fewer steps, improved atom economy,
less hazardous starting materials, and reducing solvent use.
Edexcel
Highlights carbon-chain extension, especially through nitriles and Grignard reagents.