1Deuteriocyclohexane from Cyclohexane

One of the earliest, and perhaps most significant-although accidental-examples of synthesis was reported by Friederich Wöhler in 1828. In an experiment designed to prepare ammonium cyanate from silver cyanate, (Keith, Pp 64) he heated the latter with ammonium chloride expecting the outcome shown below.

AgOCN + NH4Cl ——> ? NH4OCN + AgCl

The study of organic chemistry exposes a student to a wide range of interrelated reactions. Alkenes, for example, may be converted to structurally similar alkanes, alcohols, alkyl halides, epoxides, glycols and boranes; cleaved to smaller aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids; and enlarged by carbocation and radical additions as well ...