Organic synthesis: past paper questions

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• Question 28May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  This question is about the conversion of but-2-ene to butanone. What are the correct steps to carry out this conversion?

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 22Structured13 marks

  Propanoic acid, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2\text{COOH}$, reacts with reducing agent $\mathbf{Q}$ to produce propan-1-ol, ${\text{CH}}_3{\text{CH}}_2{\text{CH}}_2\text{OH}$. Suggest the formula of reducing agent $\mathbf{Q}$.

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• Question 31May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  2-bromopropane is converted to 1,2-dibromopropane in a pathway involving two reactions.

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• Question 32Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid can be made from bromoethane using a two-stage synthesis. Which pair of reagents is most suitable?

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• Question 32May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid is used to make propene in two steps. What are the reagents for step 1 and step 2?

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• Question 33May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which reagents could be used to form 2-bromobutane from butan-1-ol?

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• Question 33Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Propanoic acid can be used to make propene by a two-stage synthesis. Which row shows suitable reagents for this synthesis?

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• Question 31May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Chloroethane can be used to make sodium propanoate. $$\text{chloroethane}\to \text{intermediate Q}\to \text{sodium propanoate}$$ Intermediate Q is hydrolysed with boiling aqueous $\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}$ to give sodium propanoate.

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• Question 5May/June 2024, paper 23Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  M reacts to form R by the addition of one reagent, as shown in Fig. 5.1. Fig. 5.1 Identify the reagent and conditions for this reaction.

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• Question 29May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The conversion of propan-1-ol into propan-2-ol can be completed in a two-stage synthesis. The first stage is to heat the propan-1-ol with concentrated sulfuric acid. Which reagent would be needed to complete the second stage?

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• Question 35May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Methylbut-2-ene reacts with $\mathrm{H}\mathrm{B}\mathrm{r}$ at room temperature to produce compound X as a major product. Compound X reacts with $\mathrm{K}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{N}$ in ethanol to produce compound Y. Compound Y is hydrolysed with acid to produce compound Z. What is compound Z?

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• Question 38May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which two-step process converts cyclohexanol into cyclohexane-1,2-diol?

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