Unit II – Alkanes & Alkenes

Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry – I (BP202T)

📘 Unit II Syllabus

Classification, nomenclature, preparation, reactions, isomerism of alkanes and alkenes, and their pharmaceutical importance.

🧪 Introduction

Alkanes and alkenes are hydrocarbons containing carbon and hydrogen. They form the backbone of organic chemistry and are important in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds.

🧱 Alkanes

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons containing only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms. Their general formula is C_nH_2n+2.

📝 Nomenclature of Alkanes

• Based on IUPAC rules
• Longest carbon chain is selected
• Suffix -ane is used

⚗️ Preparation of Alkanes

• Wurtz reaction
• Kolbe’s electrolytic method
• Reduction of alkyl halides

🔥 Reactions of Alkanes

• Combustion
• Halogenation
• Cracking

🔄 Alkenes

Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon– carbon double bond. Their general formula is C_nH_2n.

🧬 Isomerism in Alkenes

• Structural isomerism
• Geometrical (cis–trans) isomerism

⚡ Reactions of Alkenes

• Addition reactions
• Oxidation reactions
• Polymerization

💊 Pharmaceutical Importance

Alkenes are important intermediates in the synthesis of drugs, polymers, and pharmaceutical excipients.