NEET Chemistry — Organic Reactions You Must Know (Complete List)

Why Organic Reactions Matter for NEET

NEET asks 4–6 questions directly on named reactions, conversions, and reagent identification every year. These are guaranteed marks if you memorise the reactions and their conditions.

Must-Know Named Reactions

Hydrocarbons

• Wurtz Reaction — 2R-X + 2Na → R-R + 2NaX (coupling of alkyl halides)
• Kolbe's Electrolysis — Electrolysis of sodium salt of carboxylic acid → alkane
• Markovnikov's Rule — HX addition to unsymmetrical alkenes (H to C with more H's)
• Anti-Markovnikov (Peroxide effect) — HBr + peroxide → opposite addition

Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers

• Williamson Synthesis — R-ONa + R'-X → R-O-R' (ether synthesis)
• Kolbe's Reaction — Phenol + NaOH + CO₂ → Salicylic acid
• Reimer-Tiemann Reaction — Phenol + CHCl₃ + NaOH → Salicylaldehyde
• Fittig Reaction — ArX + 2Na + ArX → Ar-Ar

Aldehydes and Ketones

• Aldol Condensation — 2 CH₃CHO → β-hydroxy aldehyde (NaOH catalyst)
• Cannizzaro Reaction — 2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH₃OH (disproportionation)
• Clemmensen Reduction — Zn-Hg/HCl → reduces C=O to CH₂
• Wolff-Kishner Reduction — NH₂-NH₂/KOH/ethylene glycol → reduces C=O to CH₂
• HVZ Reaction — Carboxylic acid + Br₂/P → α-bromo acid

Carboxylic Acids

• Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky — α-halogenation of carboxylic acids
• Decarboxylation — RCOONa + NaOH + CaO → R-H
• Esterification — RCOOH + R'OH ⇌ RCOOR' + H₂O (H⁺ catalyst)

Amines

• Gabriel Phthalimide Synthesis — Phthalimide + KOH + R-X → primary amine
• Hofmann Bromamide Reaction — RCONH₂ + Br₂ + NaOH → RNH₂ (one carbon less)
• Carbylamine Reaction — R-NH₂ + CHCl₃ + KOH → R-NC (isocyanide test for 1° amines)
• Sandmeyer Reaction — ArN₂⁺ + CuX → ArX (Cu₂Cl₂ or Cu₂Br₂)
• Gattermann Reaction — ArN₂⁺ + Cu/HX → ArX

Polymers

• Know the monomers and type (addition vs condensation) for: Nylon-6,6, Bakelite, Teflon, PVC, Polystyrene, Natural rubber

Key Reagents to Memorise

Reagent	What It Does
LiAlH₄	Reduces COOH, COOR, CHO, C=O → alcohol
NaBH₄	Reduces only CHO and C=O → alcohol (milder)
KMnO₄ (alkaline)	Oxidises alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes
K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺	Oxidises 1° alcohol → aldehyde → acid
PCC	Oxidises 1° alcohol → aldehyde only (stops there)
Grignard (RMgX)	Adds to C=O to form alcohol
Tollens' (Ag(NH₃)₂⁺)	Oxidises aldehyde → silver mirror (test)
Fehling's (Cu²⁺)	Oxidises aldehyde → red ppt (test)

How to Memorise These

1. Group by chapter — Don't mix everything together
2. Write the reaction daily — Physical writing creates motor memory
3. Use flashcards — Test yourself on "Reagent → Product" and "Reaction Name → Conditions"
4. Practice conversions — "Convert ethanol to ethanoic acid" requires chaining reactions
5. Draw mechanisms for important ones — Helps you remember conditions and products

NEET-Specific Tips

• NEET never asks you to write mechanisms — just products and conditions
• Distinguish between similar reactions (Clemmensen vs Wolff-Kishner: same product, different conditions)
• Questions often ask "identify the reagent" or "identify the product" — practice both directions
• Named reactions from amines chapter are tested every single year