Start
WHEN PRODUCTS ARE NOT KNOWN
Does the starting
material have a C=C
double bond?
NO
When the products are not
known, the only information
you can get about the
potential reactions is from
looking at the reactants.
Is there a way of
generating radicals (UV
light, or peroxides and
heat)?
YES
NO
Is there a carbonyl
group?
NO
YES
Radical
Substitution
NO
Is there a leaving group attached
to the carbonyl group?
NO
Nucleophilic
Addition
NO
YES
Is the double
bond aromatic?
YES
Nucleophilic
Substitution AND/OR
Elimination
Is there a way of
generating radicals (UV
light, or peroxides and
heat)?
Radical
Addition
YES
Is the reagent strong
enough to react with the
aromatic ring?
Electrophilic
Addition
YES
NO
Nucleophilic
AdditionElimination
Mechanism Inspector is provided by The Royal Society of Chemistry and supported by Shire.
No reaction
YES
Electrophilic
Aromatic
Substitution
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