Indian Forest Service (Mains)
Chemistry optional
- 2 papers
- 200 marks each
- 3 h per paper
Paper II covers organic chemistry and spectroscopy.
All topics
Paper II, organic chemistry and spectroscopy
Synthetic uses of reagents: every question, 2021 to 2025
16 parts worth 100 marks have been set on this unit in UPSC IFoS Chemistry Paper II from 2021 to 2025. Each one opens on its own page with the question, the answer in brief and the key points.
Syllabus
OsO₄, HIO₄, CrO₃, Pb(OAc)₄, SeO₂, NBS, B₂H₆, Na-liquid NH₃, LiAlH₄, NaBH₄, n-BuLi, MCPBA.
Notes: Reagents for oxidation, reduction and hydroboration (full notes) · short notes
2025
- Q6(c)(ii) Syn and anti dihydroxylation5 marks Question only
- Q7(c) Five reagent-based transformations10 marks Question only
2024
- Q5(c) Two Birch reductions5 marks Answered
- Q6(a)(i) Selenium dioxide allylic oxidation5 marks Question only
- Q6(a)(ii) Reductive opening of a cyclic epoxide5 marks Question only
- Q7(a)(i) Hydroboration followed by carbonylation5 marks Question only
- Q7(a)(ii) Thermal organoborane isomerization5 marks Question only
2023
- Q5(b) Osmium dihydroxylation of an allylic alcohol5 marks Answered
- Q6(a) Selective reduction and alpha oxidation10 marks Answered
- Q8(a) Selective epoxidation and carbonyl rearrangement10 marks Question only
2022
- Q5(g) Epoxide opening by dimethylamine5 marks Answered
- Q5(h) Labelled allylic bromination5 marks Answered
- Q7(e) Lead tetraacetate cyclization of butanol10 marks Answered
2021
- Q1(f) Phenol to a reduced aryl ether5 marks Answered
- Q4(b) Oxidation and oxidative cleavage5 marks Question only
- Q5(d) Oxidation of 2-acetylpyridine5 marks Answered