Summary of Carbonyl Reactivity

1.  Simple addition of nucleophiles.

Mechanism:
(though be sure to think through the consequences of acid catalysis or base catalysis)
generic nucleophilic addition
Reaction name Nucleophile Reaction Product
Hydration (or formation of hemiacetals) H2O (ROH, RSH) Carbonyl hydrate
Cyanohydrin Formation CN- (from HCN) Cyanohydrin
Grignard addition R'--Mg+X Alcohol
Reduction H- (from LiAlH4, NaBH4) Primary or secondary alcohol