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Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers formula sheet

Every formula in the Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers chapter for JEE Main, with one line on when it applies. Topic 1 is open to everyone; sign in free to read all 23 and download the PDF.

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How we count: 7× asked means 7 past JEE Main questions in the PrepWiser bank needed that formula, and "last" is the latest year one appeared. ★ marks formulas asked 8 or more times.

Alcohols: structure, properties and preparation

Structure
2× asked, last 2026
C−O (pm): CHX3OH 142>CHX3OCHX3 141C−O (pm): >CX6HX5OH 136∠C−O−H 108.9∘;∠C−O−C 111.7∘\begin{aligned}&\ce{C-O}\ (\text{pm}):\ \ce{CH3OH}\ 142>\ce{CH3OCH3}\ 141\\&\phantom{\ce{C-O}\ (\text{pm}):\ }>\ce{C6H5OH}\ 136\\&\angle\ce{C-O-H}\ 108.9^\circ;\qquad \angle\ce{C-O-C}\ 111.7^\circ\end{aligned}
1°/2°/3° = C atoms on the carbinol C. Phenol C–O short (sp² C, partial double bond). Bulky R widen C–O–C.
Boiling point
2× asked, last 2025
alcohol>aldehyde, ketone>ether≈alkane\text{alcohol}>\text{aldehyde, ketone}>\text{ether}\approx\text{alkane}
Similar mass. Alcohols H-bond to each other; ethers only accept H-bonds. Branching lowers b.p.
Hydration of alkenes
2× asked, last 2026
CHX3CH=CHX2→HX2O/HX+CHX3CH(OH)CHX3 (Markovnikov)CHX3CH=CHX2→(ii) HX2OX2/OHX−(i) BX2HX6CHX3CHX2CHX2OH\begin{aligned}&\ce{CH3CH=CH2 ->[\ce{H2O}/\ce{H+}] CH3CH(OH)CH3}\ (\text{Markovnikov})\\&\ce{CH3CH=CH2 ->[(i)\ \ce{B2H6}][(ii)\ \ce{H2O2}/\ce{OH-}] CH3CH2CH2OH}\end{aligned}
Acid route goes via a carbocation and may rearrange; hydroboration does not.
Reduction
RCHO→NaBHX4RCHX2OH,RX2CO→LiAlHX4RX2CHOHRCOOH→(ii) HX2O(i) LiAlHX4RCHX2OH\begin{aligned}&\ce{RCHO ->[\ce{NaBH4}] RCH2OH},\qquad \ce{R2CO ->[\ce{LiAlH4}] R2CHOH}\\&\ce{RCOOH ->[(i)\ \ce{LiAlH4}][(ii)\ \ce{H2O}] RCH2OH}\end{aligned}
NaBHX4\ce{NaBH4} spares COOH, esters, C=C. Ozonolysis and alkyne hydration stop at C=O.
Grignard route
4× asked, last 2026
HCHO→1∘,RCHO→2∘,RX2CO→3∘RX′COORX′′+2 RMgX→3∘ RX′RX2COHHCOORX′′+2 RMgX→2∘ RX2CHOH\begin{aligned}&\ce{HCHO}\to1^\circ,\qquad \ce{RCHO}\to2^\circ,\qquad \ce{R2CO}\to3^\circ\\&\ce{R^{\prime}COOR^{\prime\prime} + 2RMgX}\to3^\circ\ \ce{R^{\prime}R2COH}\\&\ce{HCOOR^{\prime\prime} + 2RMgX}\to2^\circ\ \ce{R2CHOH}\end{aligned}
Dry ether, then HX3OX+\ce{H3O+}. An ester takes 2 RMgX (two identical R).
Methanol and ethanol
3× asked, last 2026
CO+2 HX2→ZnO−CrX2OX3CHX3OHCX6HX12OX6→zymase2 CX2HX5OH+2 COX2\begin{aligned}&\ce{CO + 2H2 ->[\ce{ZnO}-\ce{Cr2O3}] CH3OH}\\&\ce{C6H12O6 ->[\text{zymase}] 2C2H5OH + 2CO2}\end{aligned}
Methanol: 573–673 K, 200–300 atm. Invertase splits sucrose first; no air (it would turn ethanol to acid).

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17 more formulas in 4 topics

Reactions of alcohols, Phenols: preparation and acidity, Reactions of phenol and Ethers. Read the first part free. Sign in free with Google to read the rest and download the PDF.

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Reactions of alcohols

  • Acidity2×
  • Esterification and acetylation2×
  • HX and the Lucas test2×
  • Dehydration4×
  • Oxidation4×
  • Iodoform test

Phenols: preparation and acidity

  • Preparation of phenol2×
  • Acidity of phenol4×
  • Substituted phenols3×

Reactions of phenol

  • Bromination3×
  • Nitration and sulphonation3×
  • Kolbe and Reimer–Tiemann9×
  • Aspirin
  • Zn dust, oxidation, tests7×

Ethers

  • Williamson synthesis3×
  • Cleavage by HI5×
  • Anisole: ring reactions

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