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Organic problem solving and synthesis routes: Edexcel International A Level Chemistry questions

Edexcel International A Level Chemistry past-paper questions on 20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.

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  1. Q11(a)

    June 2025 · Unit 5

    1 mark20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 11

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  2. Q19(c)

    October 2024 · Unit 5

    7 marks20.1.2 Grignard reagents and lengthening carbon chains20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  3. Q4(c)

    October 2024 · Unit 6

    1 mark19.1.4 Diazonium ions and azo dyes20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 4

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  4. Q15(b)

    June 2024 · Unit 5

    1 mark15.D.1 Naming acyl chlorides and esters20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 15

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  5. Q15(c)

    June 2024 · Unit 5

    3 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  6. Q15(b)

    January 2024 · Unit 5

    7 marks20.1.2 Grignard reagents and lengthening carbon chains20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  7. Q20(b)

    October 2023 · Unit 5

    7 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes20.1.2 Grignard reagents and lengthening carbon chains
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    The start of question 20

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  8. Q17(b)

    January 2023 · Unit 5

    5 marks20.1.1 Deducing formulae and structures from data20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 17

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  9. Q19(b)

    January 2023 · Unit 5

    5 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  10. Q13

    October 2022 · Unit 4

    1 mark20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  11. Q17

    October 2022 · Unit 5

    1 mark19.1.2 Reactions and basicity of amines20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  12. Q23(d)

    October 2022 · Unit 5

    4 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 23

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  13. Q12(c)

    June 2022 · Unit 5

    1 mark10.A.1 Classifying reactions and mechanisms20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 12

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  14. Q16

    June 2022 · Unit 5

    6 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  15. Q13

    January 2022 · Unit 4

    1 mark20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  16. Q16(a)

    January 2022 · Unit 5

    6 marks20.1.2 Grignard reagents and lengthening carbon chains20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 16

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  17. Q21(e)(i)

    October 2021 · Unit 5

    2 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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    The start of question 21

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  18. Q21(f)(i)

    October 2021 · Unit 5

    2 marks15.D.3 Ester hydrolysis and polyesters20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  19. Q18

    January 2021 · Unit 5

    1 mark1.2.4 Percentage yield and atom economy20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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  20. Q20(b)

    January 2021 · Unit 5

    4 marks20.1.3 Organic problem solving and synthesis routes
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All 23 questions on Organic problem solving and synthesis routes, as a list
  1. June 2025, Unit 5, Q11(a) (1 mark): Which is the name of the functional group that is replaced in step A? (1) A phenyl B nitrile C amine D amide
  2. October 2024, Unit 5, Q19(c) (7 marks): Raspberry ketone can also be synthesised in the laboratory using a Grignard reagent via a multi-step process. The overall reaction is shown. OH O HO HO Devise t
  3. October 2024, Unit 6, Q4(c) (1 mark): Azo dyes were developed during the nineteenth century but workers in the industry showed high rates of bladder cancer and the production of some dyes was discon
  4. June 2024, Unit 5, Q15(b) (1 mark): An alternative synthesis of 2,6‑dichlorophenol starts with compound C. OH O O compound C Compound C is chlorinated and hydrolysed and then the CO2 group is remo
  5. June 2024, Unit 5, Q15(c) (3 marks): Identify three factors that organic chemists would take into account when considering alternative methods for an organic synthesis. (3)
  6. January 2024, Unit 5, Q15(b) (7 marks): Cooking fresh ginger converts gingerol into zingerone, which is less pungent and has a sweeter flavour. Zingerone can be formed in a four‑step synthesis from co
  7. October 2023, Unit 5, Q20(b) (7 marks): Devise a synthesis to convert bromobenzene into benzamide. Include reagents, conditions and the structures of the intermediate compounds. O Br C NH2 bromobenzen
  8. January 2023, Unit 5, Q17(b) (5 marks): Compound A, C9H12O, contains a benzene ring and one side-chain. A is oxidised when heated with acidified potassium dichromate(VI) to produce a compound B which
  9. January 2023, Unit 5, Q19(b) (5 marks): Devise a synthesis of N-phenylethylethanamide from (bromomethyl)benzene without the use of a Grignard reagent. Include reagents, conditions and the structures o
  10. October 2022, Unit 4, Q13 (1 mark): Which reaction does not produce a tertiary alcohol as one of the products? A (CH3)2C=CH2 + H2O B (CH3)3CBr + H2O C (CH3)3CCOC(CH3)3 + LiAlH4 D (CH3)3CCOOC(CH3)3
  11. October 2022, Unit 5, Q17 (1 mark): The structures of cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine are shown. O O O OH N N O O O O cocaine benzoylecgonine How would you expect the solubility of coca
  12. October 2022, Unit 5, Q23(d) (4 marks): Salicylaldehyde may be used in the synthesis of coumarin, a compound which occurs in many plants. Coumarin is in turn used to prepare warfarin, a compound presc
  13. June 2022, Unit 5, Q12(c) (1 mark): State the type of reaction in Step 3. (1)
  14. June 2022, Unit 5, Q16 (6 marks): The ester ethyl 2‑methylbutanoate is found in wild berries such as bilberries. Devise a synthesis to convert but‑2‑ene into ethyl 2‑methylbutanoate in four step
  15. January 2022, Unit 4, Q13 (1 mark): But‑2‑ene‑1,4‑diol may be converted into 2‑oxobutanedioic acid in a two‑step synthesis through an intermediate compound W. steam and H2SO4 W HOCH2CH CHCH2OH HO2
  16. January 2022, Unit 5, Q16(a) (6 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to produce benzoic acid from benzene, via bromobenzene and then a Grignard reagent. Include the reagents and essential conditions for e
  17. October 2021, Unit 5, Q21(e)(i) (2 marks): Complete the equation for this reaction. (2) O O H O O N + + + + 2 NaOH H2O N NO2 ONa H O
  18. October 2021, Unit 5, Q21(f)(i) (2 marks): Hydrolysis with excess aqueous sodium hydroxide. (2)
  19. January 2021, Unit 5, Q18 (1 mark): Benzenecarboxylic acid may be produced from benzene in a two-step synthesis. O OH CH3 C Step 1 Step 2 Yield 45% Yield 60% benzene methylbenzene benzenecarboxyli
  20. January 2021, Unit 5, Q20(b) (4 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to prepare propan-1-ol from butanone, using no more than four steps. Identify the reagents and essential conditions for each step and g
  21. January 2021, Unit 5, Q20(c) (5 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to prepare 2-methylbut-2-ene from butanone, using no more than four steps. Identify the reagents and essential conditions for each step
  22. January 2021, Unit 5, Q24(c)(ii) (1 mark): Deduce the structure of quinic acid which combines with caffeic acid to form chlorogenic acid. (1) O H O OH caffeic acid OH OH H O O O H O O OH OH OH chlorogenic
  23. October 2020, Unit 5, Q23(b) (6 marks): Devise a reaction scheme to convert butan-2-ol into 1-amino-2-methylbutan-2-ol in three steps. H H OH H H H OH H H C C C C H H C C C C H H H H H H H CH2 H NH2 1

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