Riemer Tiemann Reaction :  -
When phenol is treated with chloroform in presence of aqueous sodium or potassium hydroxide at 340K followed by hydrolysis of the resulting product gives 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde as the major product. This reaction is called Reimer-Tiemann reaction. 

Mechanism of Riemer Tiemann reaction

Hydroboration Oxidation Reaction: - 

Diborane (B2H6) is an electron deficient molecule.  Therefore it acts as an electrophile and reacts with alkenes to form trialkylboranes which upon subsequent oxidation with alkaline H2O2  give alcohols.

B2H6    2BH3

Mechanism of Hydroboration Oxidation

Acidic Character Sequence Compiled for JEE Advanced & Neet


-water is a stronger acid than alcohol (reciprocate - alkoxide is stronger base than hydroxide)

-acidic strength of alcohols = < < (Primary alcohols are strongest amongst 3°) 

-acidic strength of Phenols, Carboxylic acids and carbonic acids (Alcohols<Phenols<Carbonic Acids<Carboxylic Acids)

-Electron withdrawing group increases acidic character of Phenols (EWG - NO2, -CN, -X)

-Electron donating group decreases acidic character of Phenols (EDG - NH2, -OR (alkoxy), -R (alkyl) )


acidic character sequence : v important (lower pKa value higher will be the acidic character)

2,4,6 -Trinitrophenol 0.71 >  2,4 - Dinitrophenol 4.0 > 4-Nitrophenol 7.15 > 2-Nitrophenol 7.23 > 3-Nitrophenol 8.40 > m-Methoxyphenol 9.65 > m-Aminophenol 9.87 > Phenol 9.98 = o-Methoxyphenol > m-Cresol 10.08 > p-Cresol  10.04 > p-Methoxyphenol 10.21 > o-Cresol 10.28 >


o-Halophenol > m-Halophenol > p-Halophenol

o-Chloropheno > o-Bromophenol > o-Iodophenol > o-Fluorophenol


Main Sequence : - 2,4,6 -Trinitrophenol (pKa0.71) >  2,4 - Dinitrophenol (pKa4.0) > 4-Nitrophenol (pKa7.15) > 2-Nitrophenol (pKa7.23) > o-Chlorophenol (pKa8.11) > o-Bromophenol (pKa8.39 >  3-Nitrophenol (pKa8.40) > o-Iodophenol (pKa8.48) > o-Fluorophenol (pKa8.81)> m-Methoxyphenol (pKa9.65) > m-Aminophenol (pKa9.87) > Phenol (pKa9.98) = o-Methoxyphenol (pKa9.98) > m-Cresol (pKa10.08) > p-Cresol (pKa10.04) > p-Methoxyphenol (pKa10.21) > o-Cresol (pKa10.28) 


Q.Arrange the following compounds in increasing order of their acid strength: propan-1-ol, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 3,5-dinitrophenol, phenol, 4-methylphenol (p-cresol), 4-methoxyphenol.

Ans. propan-1-ol < 4-methoxyphenol < 4-methylphenol < phenol < 3-nitrophenol < 4-nitrophenol < 3,5-dinitrophenol < 2,4,6-trinitrophenol.

Reaction with carboxylic acids: 

Alcohols react with carboxylic acids, in presence of a few drops of conc.H2SO4 or dry HCl gas as catalyst, to form esters.  This reaction which is slow and reversible is called esterification.  When HCl gas is used as a catalyst, the reaction is usually referred to as Fischer-Speier esterification.