What Is a Name Reaction in Chemistry Definition Types and Important Examples
Name reactions are those chemical reactions that are named after the scientists who discovered or developed them. This trend started in 1822 with scientist Lieben. He studied the reaction of many carbonyl compounds with iodine and alkali and postulated rules that formed the basis of the iodoform test. This is the reason the reaction was named after Lieben and was called LIeben Haloform Reaction. Presently, hundreds of well-known organic reactions have been named after scientists. All these name reactions are very important for board examinations and competitive exams such as IIT JEE, NEET etc.
Importance of Name Reactions
If you are in class 12, then all name reactions are very important to score well in the board exam and clear JEE or NEET exams. Here we are providing you with a list of important named reactions in organic chemistry, which will be handy for you during revision. We have linked listed named reactions with separate pages as well in which named reactions are given with detailed descriptions, mechanisms and applications.
List of Important Name Reactions in Organic Chemistry
Friedel Crafts Alkylation Reaction
By this reaction, alkyl benzene is formed by the reaction of the aromatic compound and alkyl halide in the presence of Friedel craft catalyst (AlCl3). For more details, visit the following pages on Vedantu– Friedel Crafts Reaction.
Friedel Crafts Acylation Reaction
By this reaction, a monoacyl aromatic compound is formed by the reaction of an acylating agent and aromatic compound in the presence of Friedel craft catalyst. For more details, visit the following pages on Vedantu– Friedel Crafts Reaction.
Mannich Reaction
In this reaction, 1° or 2° amine/ ammonia reacts with non-enolizable aldehyde and enolizable carbonyl compounds to form a Mannich base. For more details on mannich reaction, visit the following page on Vedantu–Mannich Reaction.
Hoffmann Bromamide Degradation Reaction
In Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction, an amide reacts with bromine and an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide which produces primary amine. For more details, visit the following pages on Vedantu– Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction Mechanism.
Rosenmund Reduction Reaction
In the Rosenmund Reaction, acyl chloride is hydrogenated to get reduced into aldehyde, and palladium-barium sulphate is used as a catalyst. For more details, visit the following pages on Vedantu– Rosenmund Reduction Mechanism.
Hofmann Elimination Reaction
Tertiary amines and alkenes are formed by Hofmann elimination reaction. For more details, visit the Hofmann Elimination article page on Vedantu.
Cannizzaro Reaction
In this reaction, one molecule of aldehyde is oxidized to carboxylic acid, and another molecule of aldehyde is reduced to an alcohol. For more details, visit the following pages on Vedantu– Cannizzaro Reaction Mechanism.
Wurtz Reaction
It is a coupling reaction in which two alkyl halides react with sodium to form a new alkane. For more details, visit Wurtz Reaction and Important Chemical Reactions for Class 12 Chemistry pages on Vedantu.
Swartz Reaction
It is a halogen exchange reaction in which alkyl halide is used as one of the reactants. For more details, visit Swartz Reaction and Important Chemical Reactions for Class 12 Chemistry pages on Vedantu.
Perkin Reaction
It is used to make cinnamic acids. It gives α,β-unsaturated aromatic acid by aldol condensation. For more details, visit the Perkin Reaction Mechanism page on Vedantu.
Sandmeyer Reaction
In the Sandmeyer reaction, a product of diazotization reaction, which is diazonium salt, is used to synthesize aryl halides.
Gattermann Reaction
It is used in the synthesis of aromatic ring compounds such as aromatic halides and aromatic aldehydes.
Balz-Schiemann Reaction
This reaction is used in the formation of fluorobenzene.
Finkelstein Reaction
The reaction in which alkyl iodides are prepared by the reaction of alkyl chloride or alkyl bromide with sodium iodide in dry acetone is called Finkelstein Reaction.
Fittig Reaction
When aryl halides react with metallic sodium in the presence of dry ether, it forms biphenyl as a major product. Then this reaction is known as the Fittig Reaction.
Reimer – Tiemann Reaction
In the Reimer – Tiemann reaction, phenol reacts with chloroform in the presence of sodium hydroxide, as a result of which an aldehyde group gets attached to the ortho position of the ring.
Kolbe’s Reaction
This reaction gives 2-hydroxybenzoic acid or salicylic acid by using phenol, sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide.
Stephen Reaction
In Stephen Reaction, nitrile reacts with SnCl2 in the presence of HCl and gives imine hydrochloride, which on hydrolysis gives aldehyde.
Gattermann – Koch Reaction
In the Gattermann – Koch reaction, benzene is treated with carbon monoxide in the acidic medium in the presence of anhydrous aluminium chloride to give benzaldehyde.
Clemmensen Reduction Reaction
In the Clemmensen reduction reaction, the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones on reaction with zinc amalgam and conc. HCl is reduced to their corresponding hydrocarbon.
Wolff Kishner Reduction Reaction
In Wolff Kishner Reduction Reaction, the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones reacts with hydrazine and forms hydrazone, which on heating with sodium hydroxide in boiling ethylene glycol reduces to CH2 group.
Aldol Condensation
In an aldol condensation reaction, two molecules of an aldehyde or ketones get condensed and form β - hydroxy aldehyde or β - hydroxy ketone, respectively, in the presence of dilute alkali.
Carbylamine Reaction
When aliphatic or aromatic primary amines are heated with chloroform, and ethanolic potassium hydroxide produces carbyl amines or isocyanides. This reaction is known as the carbylamine reaction.
For more details, visit the Important Chemical Reactions for Class 12 Chemistry page on Vedantu.
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FAQs on Name Reaction in Chemistry Explained with Definition and Examples
1. What is a name reaction in organic chemistry?
A name reaction is a well-established organic reaction that is named after the chemist who discovered or developed it. These reactions represent specific, reproducible transformations such as oxidation, reduction, substitution, or rearrangement.
They are important because:
- They provide a standard method for converting one functional group into another.
- They are widely used in organic synthesis and industry.
- They help students recognize reaction patterns quickly.
2. Why are name reactions important in organic chemistry?
Name reactions are important because they provide reliable and widely accepted methods for carrying out specific organic transformations. Each name reaction represents a tested reaction mechanism and defined set of conditions.
Their importance includes:
- Standardized synthetic routes in laboratories.
- Application in pharmaceutical and industrial chemistry.
- Better understanding of reaction mechanisms and functional group interconversions.
3. What is the Aldol condensation reaction?
The Aldol condensation is a name reaction in which two aldehydes or ketones with α-hydrogen react in the presence of a base to form a β-hydroxy aldehyde or ketone, followed by dehydration to give an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.
Example:
2CH3CHO(aq) → CH3CH(OH)CH2CHO(aq) → CH3CH=CHCHO(aq) + H2O(l)
Key points:
- Requires α-hydrogen.
- Occurs under basic conditions (e.g., NaOH).
- Forms carbon–carbon bonds.
4. What is the Cannizzaro reaction?
The Cannizzaro reaction is a base-induced disproportionation of aldehydes without α-hydrogen to form an alcohol and a carboxylate salt.
Example:
2HCHO(aq) + NaOH(aq) → HCOONa(aq) + CH3OH(l)
Important features:
- Occurs only with aldehydes lacking α-hydrogen.
- Involves simultaneous oxidation and reduction.
- Takes place in concentrated base.
5. What is the Grignard reaction?
The Grignard reaction involves the reaction of a Grignard reagent (RMgX) with carbonyl compounds to form alcohols after hydrolysis.
General reaction:
R–MgX + R′CHO → R–CH(OMgX)R′ → R–CH(OH)R′ (after acidic workup)
Key points:
- Grignard reagent is prepared from alkyl halide and Mg in dry ether.
- Adds to aldehydes, ketones, or esters.
- Forms new carbon–carbon bonds.
6. What is the difference between Aldol and Cannizzaro reactions?
The main difference is that the Aldol reaction requires α-hydrogen, while the Cannizzaro reaction occurs only in aldehydes without α-hydrogen.
Comparison:
- Aldol: Forms β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds; needs α-H; base-catalyzed.
- Cannizzaro: Produces alcohol + carboxylate; no α-H; strong base required.
- Reaction type: Aldol forms C–C bonds; Cannizzaro is disproportionation.
7. What is the Wurtz reaction?
The Wurtz reaction is a coupling reaction in which two alkyl halides react with sodium metal in dry ether to form a higher alkane.
General equation:
2R–X + 2Na(s) → R–R + 2NaX
Example:
2CH3Cl + 2Na → C2H6 + 2NaCl
It is mainly used for preparing symmetrical alkanes.
8. What is the Friedel–Crafts reaction?
The Friedel–Crafts reaction is an electrophilic aromatic substitution used to introduce alkyl or acyl groups into an aromatic ring using a Lewis acid catalyst like AlCl3.
Types:
- Alkylation: C6H6 + CH3Cl → C6H5CH3 + HCl (AlCl3)
- Acylation: C6H6 + CH3COCl → C6H5COCH3 + HCl (AlCl3)
9. How do you remember important name reactions easily?
You can remember important name reactions by grouping them based on reaction type and functional group transformation.
Effective strategies:
- Classify into oxidation, reduction, substitution, and rearrangement reactions.
- Practice writing balanced reaction equations.
- Understand the reaction mechanism instead of memorizing blindly.
- Use reaction flowcharts for quick revision.
10. How are name reactions used in organic synthesis?
Name reactions are used in organic synthesis to systematically convert simple starting materials into complex molecules.
Applications include:
- Formation of carbon–carbon bonds (e.g., Grignard, Aldol).
- Functional group modification (e.g., Friedel–Crafts acylation).
- Preparation of pharmaceuticals, polymers, and fine chemicals.
