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Mechanisms templates

21 templates · 3 free to download · for high school, A-level, AP and first-year university organic chemistry

Core organic reaction mechanisms with curly arrows: SN1 and SN2 substitution, E1 and E2 elimination, aldol addition, imine and hemiacetal formation, ester hydrolysis, alkene bromination, radical chlorination and carbocation rearrangements. Each template shows every electron-pushing step clearly enough to teach from.

Aldol addition template previewAldol additionFreeSN2 substitution template previewSN2 substitutionFreeSN1 substitution template previewSN1 substitutionFreeE2 elimination template previewE2 eliminationPremiumE1 elimination template previewE1 eliminationPremiumAcid-catalysed hemiacetal formation template previewAcid-catalysed hemiacetal formationPremiumImine formation template previewImine formationPremiumEster hydrolysis (saponification) template previewEster hydrolysis (saponification)PremiumBromination of an alkene template previewBromination of an alkenePremiumRadical chlorination of methane template previewRadical chlorination of methanePremiumResonance structures template previewResonance structuresPremiumCarbocation rearrangement template previewCarbocation rearrangementPremiumNitration of benzene template previewNitration of benzenePremiumBromination of benzene template previewBromination of benzenePremiumSulfonation of benzene template previewSulfonation of benzenePremiumAddition of HBr to an alkene template previewAddition of HBr to an alkenePremiumAcid-catalysed hydration template previewAcid-catalysed hydrationPremiumAnti-Markovnikov addition of HBr template previewAnti-Markovnikov addition of HBrPremiumReduction with NaBH₄ template previewReduction with NaBH₄PremiumCyanohydrin formation template previewCyanohydrin formationPremiumAldol condensation template previewAldol condensationPremium

Frequently asked questions

What is a curly-arrow mechanism template?

A ready-made drawing of a reaction mechanism in which curved arrows show where electron pairs move in each step. You can open it in MolDraw, change the substrate and reuse it.

Can I use these mechanisms in exams and worksheets?

Yes. Open the template, delete the arrows you want students to draw, and export the result as a fill-in question.

Are the mechanisms templates free?

3 of the 21 mechanisms templates are free to download. All of them can be previewed here and opened and edited in MolDraw; downloading the premium ones is part of MolDraw Pro.

Other template categories

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