18.4.1 Synthetic Routes

• The reaction pathway in organic synthesis is the specific sequence of chemical reactions
• Match the key aspect of synthetic routes with its description:

  Starting Materials ↔️ Simpler organic compounds used as initial reactants

  Reaction Pathway ↔️ The specific sequence of chemical reactions

  Target Compound ↔️ The desired complex organic molecule
• Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, while alkenes are unsaturated
• What is the Beckmann rearrangement an example of?

  Rearrangement reaction
• What are the fundamental reaction types in organic synthesis?

  Substitution, addition, elimination, oxidation/reduction, rearrangement
• In substitution reactions, one functional group or atom is replaced with another
• Addition reactions involve adding atoms or groups across a multiple bond.


  True
• Match the reaction type with its example:

  Substitution ↔️ Nucleophilic substitution of alcohols with halides

  Addition ↔️ Electrophilic addition of HBr to alkenes

  Elimination ↔️ Dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes
• Steps of retrosynthetic analysis in multi-step synthesis

  1️⃣ Identify the target compound

  2️⃣ Analyze the functional groups

  3️⃣ Propose disconnections

  4️⃣ Select reaction steps
• What is multi-step synthesis used for?

  Transforming simple starting materials
• The first step in retrosynthetic analysis is to identify the target compound.
• Organic synthesis involves creating a desired target compound from simpler starting materials.

  True
• Match the key aspect of synthetic routes with its description:

  Starting Materials ↔️ Simpler organic compounds used as initial reactants

  Reaction Pathway ↔️ Sequence of reactions to transform starting materials

  Target Compound ↔️ Desired complex organic molecule
• What is organic synthesis?

  Building complex organic molecules
• Synthetic routes in organic synthesis provide a systematic approach to building complex molecules.


  True
• What do organic chemists rely on to produce target compounds in synthetic routes?

  Starting materials and reaction pathway
• Match the common reagent with its description:

  Oxidizing Agents ↔️ e.g. KMnO4, H2O2

  Reducing Agents ↔️ e.g. LiAlH4, NaBH4

  Acids/Bases ↔️ e.g. HCl, NaOH

  Catalysts ↔️ e.g. Pd, Pt, Ni
• Arrange the fundamental reaction types in organic synthesis based on their common examples:

  1️⃣ Substitution Reactions (e.g. nucleophilic substitution of alcohols with halides)

  2️⃣ Addition Reactions (e.g. electrophilic addition of HBr to alkenes)

  3️⃣ Elimination Reactions (e.g. dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes)

  4️⃣ Oxidation/Reduction Reactions (e.g. oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes/ketones)

  5️⃣ Rearrangement Reactions (e.g. the Beckmann rearrangement)
• Oxidation reactions in organic synthesis always increase the number of oxygen atoms in a molecule.

  True
• What is the result of an elimination reaction?

  A multiple bond
• Oxidation reactions increase the oxidation state of atoms
• Retrosynthetic analysis involves working backward from the target compound to identify suitable reactions.


  True
• What reactions can be used to synthesize aspirin from salicylic acid and acetic anhydride?

  Esterification and acetylation
• What is the goal of synthetic routes in organic synthesis?

  Transform starting materials into target compounds
• What are common examples of oxidizing agents used in organic synthesis?

  KMnO4, H2O2
• Match the reaction type with its description:

  Substitution ↔️ Replacement of one functional group or atom with another

  Addition ↔️ Addition of atoms or groups across a multiple bond

  Elimination ↔️ Removal of atoms to form a multiple bond
• In a substitution reaction, one functional group or atom is replaced with another
• Elimination reactions form multiple bonds by removing atoms.


  True
• The addition of HBr to alkenes is an example of electrophilic addition
• Oxidation/reduction reactions involve changes in the oxidation state of atoms.


  True
• Fundamental reaction types allow organic chemists to construct a wide variety of target compounds through synthetic routes
• Steps of retrosynthetic analysis

  1️⃣ Identify the target compound

  2️⃣ Analyze the functional groups

  3️⃣ Propose disconnections

  4️⃣ Select reaction steps
• The first step in retrosynthetic analysis is to identify the target
• Why is retrosynthetic analysis important in organic synthesis?

  Designs efficient pathways
• Optimizing reaction conditions is crucial to maximize the yield
• Catalysts in organic synthesis reactions include Pd, Pt, and Ni.
• What are the three fundamental reaction types in organic synthesis?

  Substitution, addition, elimination
• What is added across a multiple bond in an addition reaction?

  Atoms or groups
• Give an example of a substitution reaction.

  Nucleophilic substitution of alcohols with halides
• What type of reaction is the dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes?

  Elimination