ORGANIC SYNTHESIS

• Organic Synthesis


  It is possible to make a large number of organic products from a few starting compounds and the necessary reagents and conditions
• Organic Synthesis


  • Knowing how organic functional groups are related to each other is key to the synthesis of a given molecule
  • The main functional groups you need to know are: Alkanes, Alkenes, Halogenoalkanes, Alcohols, Carbonyls (aldehydes & ketones), Carboxylic acids, Carboxylic acid derivatives, Amines, Nitriles, Arenes
• Aliphatic Reaction Pathways


  The key functional groups and their interconversions are summarised
• Aromatic Reaction Pathways


  The key aromatic reactions are summarised
• Choosing a Reaction Pathway


  • Chemists will often have several choices of reaching a target molecule and those choices need to take into the principles of green chemistry
  • By choosing a pathway that has fewer steps, you can prevent waste and reduce energy demands which is better for the environment
  • By analysing the atom economy of each step, you can select reactions that give a higher atom economy
  • Choosing alternative safer solvents also follows the principles of green chemistry
• Designing a Reaction Pathway

  1. Determine if the target molecule and starting molecule have the same number of carbon atoms

  2. If you need to lengthen the carbon chain you will need to put on a nitrile group by nucleophilic substitution

  3. Work out all the compounds that can be made from the starting molecule and all the molecules that can be made into the target molecule

  4. Match the groups they have in common and work out the reagents and conditions needed
• You could be required to design a synthesis with up to four steps
• Halide ions


  Ions containing a halogen element (F, Cl, Br, I)
• Testing for halide ions


  Procedure for identifying the presence of halide ions
• Chlorine


  Uses and reactions of the element chlorine
• Organic chemistry


  The study of carbon-based compounds
• Functional groups


  • Groups of atoms within organic molecules that determine their chemical properties
• Formulae


  Different ways of representing organic compounds
• Nomenclature


  The systematic naming of organic compounds
• Alkanes


  Saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2
• Fractional distillation of crude oil


  Separating the components of crude oil based on their boiling points
• Modification of alkanes by cracking

  Breaking down larger alkane molecules into smaller, more useful ones
• Combustion of alkanes


  Burning alkanes in the presence of oxygen
• Chlorination of alkanes


  Substituting hydrogen atoms in alkanes with chlorine atoms
• Halogenoalkanes


  Alkanes with one or more hydrogen atoms replaced by halogen atoms
• Reactivity of halogenoalkanes


  The chemical reactivity of compounds containing carbon-halogen bonds
• Reactions of halogenoalkanes


  The various chemical reactions that halogenoalkanes can undergo
• Ozone depletion is caused by the release of halogenoalkanes into the atmosphere
• Alkenes


  Unsaturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n
• Structure, bonding & reactivity of alkenes


  The key features of alkenes that determine their chemical properties
• Isomerism in alkenes


  The different types of isomerism that can occur in alkene molecules
• Reactions of alkenes


  The various chemical reactions that alkenes can undergo
• Test for unsaturation


  A chemical test to identify the presence of carbon-carbon double bonds
• Addition polymers


  Polymers formed by the addition reaction of alkene monomers
• Plastic pollution can be solved by the development of biodegradable addition polymers
• Types of alcohols


  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
• Alcohol production


  Methods for manufacturing alcohols
• Oxidation of alcohols


  Reactions that convert alcohols into other organic compounds
• Combustion of alcohols


  Burning alcohols in the presence of oxygen
• Elimination reactions of alcohols

  Reactions that remove water from alcohols
• Organic analysis


  Techniques used to identify the structure and functional groups of organic compounds
• Mass spectrometry


  An analytical technique that determines the molecular mass and structure of organic compounds
• Infrared spectroscopy


  An analytical technique that identifies functional groups in organic compounds
• Organic mechanisms

  The step-by-step processes by which organic reactions occur