MDCAT Organic Chemistry Master Cheat Sheet 2026 — All Reactions, One Page
Premeth Team
Meth Experts
Organic Chemistry contributes roughly 18–22 of the 45 MDCAT Chemistry MCQs — almost half the section. Mastering 12 named reactions and 4 mechanism types covers ~85% of the typically-tested Organic content.
- Total Chemistry MCQs (2026) — 45 (25% of paper)
- Organic portion — 18–22 MCQs
- Mechanism types tested — SN1, SN2, E1, E2 (free radical mentioned)
- Named reactions tested most — Markovnikov, anti-Markovnikov, Wurtz, Friedel-Crafts, Cannizzaro, Aldol, esterification
Source: PMDC MDCAT 2026 syllabus; UHS Chemistry paper analysis 2019–2024.
Organic Chemistry rewards pattern recognition over rote. Below is the condensed pattern map — print this, tape it to your wall, and drill from it.
The 12 Named Reactions You Must Know Cold
| Reaction | Type | Key product / rule |
|---|---|---|
| Markovnikov addition | Electrophilic addition (alkene + HX) | H to C with more H's |
| Anti-Markovnikov (peroxide effect) | Free-radical addition (HBr + peroxide) | Br to C with more H's |
| Wurtz reaction | Alkyl halide + Na | Symmetric alkane (doubled chain) |
| Friedel-Crafts alkylation | Aromatic + RCl / AlCl3 | Alkylated benzene |
| Friedel-Crafts acylation | Aromatic + RCOCl / AlCl3 | Aromatic ketone |
| Cannizzaro reaction | Aldehyde (no α-H) + conc. NaOH | Alcohol + carboxylate (disproportionation) |
| Aldol condensation | Two carbonyls + base | β-hydroxy aldehyde / α,β-unsaturated carbonyl |
| Esterification | Carboxylic acid + alcohol / H+ | Ester + H2O |
| Saponification | Ester + NaOH | Soap (carboxylate salt) + alcohol |
| Williamson ether synthesis | Alkoxide + alkyl halide | Ether |
| Reimer-Tiemann | Phenol + CHCl3 / NaOH | Salicylaldehyde (ortho-hydroxybenzaldehyde) |
| Kolbe reaction | Phenoxide + CO2 / heat | Salicylic acid |
The 4 Mechanism Types — Decision Tree
- SN2 — primary substrate + strong nucleophile + polar aprotic solvent. Inversion of configuration. One-step.
- SN1 — tertiary substrate + weak nucleophile + polar protic solvent. Racemisation. Two-step (carbocation intermediate).
- E2 — strong, bulky base (e.g., t-BuOK) + heat. Anti-periplanar geometry. Zaitsev product (more substituted alkene).
- E1 — tertiary substrate + weak base + polar protic. Carbocation intermediate. Zaitsev product.
High-Frequency Question Patterns
- “Identify the product of [reactant + reagent]” — ~6 MCQs every paper.
- “Which is/is not a Markovnikov product?” — trap MCQ with peroxide effect catch.
- “Predict major / minor product” (Zaitsev vs Hofmann) — 2–3 MCQs.
- “Which reaction would convert A to B?” — multi-step retrosynthesis MCQs.
- “Identify mechanism (SN1/SN2/E1/E2)” — 1–2 MCQs based on substrate + reagent + solvent.
FAQ
Q: Do I need IUPAC nomenclature?
Yes — about 2 MCQs per paper. Drill alkane / alkene / alcohol / ketone / acid naming.
Q: Are PMDC papers Organic-heavy compared to UHS-era?
Yes — the post-2020 PMDC syllabus shifted approximately 4–5 MCQs into the Organic section. Organic share is now ~45% of total Chemistry MCQs vs ~38% in UHS era.
Q: Which textbook is best for Organic?
Federal Board FSc Part II Chemistry remains the canonical source for MDCAT Organic. Pair with our reaction maps.
Tape this cheat sheet up, drill past-paper Chemistry MCQs until pattern recognition is automatic, and Organic becomes your highest-accuracy section. Pair with our Organic vs Inorganic split guide.
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