organic synthesis

why do chemists aim to design processes that do not require a solvent

it would require separation processes to remove the products from the solvent which is costly and decreases yield

why do chemists aim to deign production methods with fewer steps

better yield

why do chemists aim to deign production methods with high atom economy

less material wasted

more sustainable

primary alcohol → aldehyde

acidified potassium dichromate

secondary alcohol → ketone

acidified potassium dichromate

carbonyl → alcohol

reduction - NaBH₄

alkene → alkane

hydrogenation - nickel catalyst

NO2 → NH2

tin / HCl

alkene → polyalkene

high pressure
catalyst

alkene → dihalogenoalkane

Br₂/Cl₂
Eadd

alkene → halogenoalkane

HBr/HCl
room temp
Eadd

alkene → alcohol

conc H₂SO₄
Eadd
warm H₂O
hydrolysis

dihalogenoalkane → diol

aqueous KOH
heat under reflux
Nusub

alkane → halogenoalkane

Br₂/Cl₂

UV

FRsub

halogenoalkane → alkene

alcoholic KOH

heat under reflux

elimination

halogenoalkane → alcohol

aqueous KOH

heat under reflux

Nusub

halogenoalkane → nitrile

KCN in ethanol

heat under reflux

NuSub

halogenoalkane → primary amine

alcoholic NH₃ in excess

heat under pressure

NuSub

halogenoalkane → secondary amine , tertiary amine, quaternary salt

limited NH₃

alcohol → alkene

conc. H₂SO₄

elimination

alcohol → ester

carboxylic acid

H₂SO₄

heat

esterification

aldehyde → alcohol

NaBH₄

NuAdd

aldehyde → carboxylic acid

excess acidified potassium dichromate

heat under reflux

aldehyde → hydroxynitrile

KCN

H₂SO₄

NuAdd

ketone → alcohol

NaBH₄

NuAdd

ketone → hydroxynitrile

KCN

H₂SO₄

NuAdd

carboxylic acid → ester

alcohol

H₂SO₄

heat

esterification

nitrile → carboxylic acid

HCl

hydrolysis

nitrile → primary amine

LiAlH₄ in ether

acyl chloride / acid anhydride → carboxylic acid

H₂O

NuAddEl

acyl chloride / acid anhydride → ester

alcohol

NuAddEl

acyl chloride / acid anhydride → secondary amide

primary amine

NuAddEl

acyl chloride / acid anhydride → primary amide

NH₃

NuAddEl

primary amine → secondary amine/tertiary amine/quaternary ammonium salt

haloalkane

NuSub

primary amine → secondary amide

acyl chloride

room temperature

NuAddEl

benzene - nitrobenzene

concentrated nitric acid

concentrated sulfuric acid

ElSub

nitrobenzene → aromatic amine

tin

HCl

reduction

benzene → phenylketone

acyl chloride

anhydrous aluminium chloride catalyst

ElSub