Question

Functional groups are sites where chemical reactions take place. Using your knowledge of basic organic reactions, think about some possible reactions (e.g. SN2, E1, E2, SN1, etc.) that can occur at each of the functional groups in the DNA molecule? In relation to: Hydroxyl, methyl, carbonyl, carboxylic, and amino groups.

Answer 1

Hydroxyl, methyl, carbonyl, carboxylic, and amino groups reactions:

Alcohols undergo either E1 or E2 in acidic medium to dehydrated product and may also undergo SN1 due to leaving group ability of -OH group

Methyl group is unreactive and it may undergo freeradical substituion with halogens

Carbonyl group mainly undergo nucleophilic addition reaction because of their unsaturation and polarity

Carboxylic group undergo nucleophilic subtitution due to leaving group ability of -OH group

Amino group undergo substitution reactions on N atom