Carbonyl Compounds: Reactivity and Mechanisms

This lecture covers the reactivity of carbonyl compounds, focusing on nucleophilic reactions, leaving group effects, and electrophilic activation. It explains the nucleophilic addition and substitution mechanisms, as well as factors influencing the SAE reaction. Examples of reactions such as protection by acetylation, tosylation, peptide coupling, esterification, and acetalization are discussed. The importance of leaving group reactivity and active ester leaving groups is highlighted. The lecture concludes by emphasizing the electrophilic nature of carbonyl carbon atoms and the key role of nucleophilic attacks in carbonyl compound reactions.