Multistep Syntheses

The reactions which have been discussed to this point provide the tools for synthesis of organic compounds. When the synthetic target is a relatively complex molecule, a sequence of such reactions that would lead to the desired product must be devised. At the present time, syntheses requiring 15–20 steps are common, and many that are even longer have been developed. In the planning and execution of such multistep syntheses, an important consideration is the compatibility of the functional groups that are already present in the molecule with the reaction conditions required for subsequent steps. It is frequently necessary to modify a functional group in order to prevent interference with some reaction in the synthetic sequence. One way to do this is by use of a protective group. A protective group is some derivative that can be put in place, and then subsequently removed, in order to prevent such problems. For example, alcohols are often protected as trisubstituted silyl ethers and aldehydes as acetals. The silyl group replaces the labile proton of the hydroxyl group, and the acetal group prevents unwanted nucleophilic additions at an aldehyde.

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General References

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Authors and Affiliations

1. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Francis A. Carey & Richard J. Sundberg

1. Francis A. Carey