Alcohols - Chemical Reactions

On the basis of structure of alcohols, their reactions may be divided into following types or groups for the purposes of study.

1. Reactions involving cleavage of oxygen-hydrogen bond.

2. Reactions involving cleavage of carbon-oxygen bond.

3. Reactions involving both the alkyl and hydroxyl groups.


1. Reactions involving cleavage of oxygen-hydrogen bond.

i) reaction with active metals
ii) reaction with metal hydrides
iii) reaction with carboxylic acids (esterification)
iv) reaction with Grignard reagents
v) Reaction with acyl chloride or acid anhydride (acylation)

2. Reactions involving cleavage of carbon-oxygen bond.


i) reaction with hydrogen haldies
ii) reaction with phosphorus halides
iii) reaction with thionyl chloride

3. Reactions involving both the alkyl and hydroxyl groups.

i) dehydration
ii) oxidation,
iii) dehydrogenation

reaction with ZnCl2/conc.-HCl, (Lucas test)
conversion of alcohols into aldehydes and ketones;