Antisynthetic transforms

The initial step in creating a synthetic plan involves a retrosynthetic analysis. The structure of the molecule is dissected step by step along reasonable pathways to successively simpler compounds until molecules that are acceptable as starting materials are identified. Several factors enter into this process, and all are closely interrelated. The recognition of bond disconnections allows the molecule to be broken down into key intermediates. Such disconnections must be made in such a way that it is feasible to form the bonds by some synthetic process. The relative placement of potential functionality strongly influences which bond disconnections are preferred. To emphasize that these disconnections must correspond to transformations that can be conducted in the synthetic sense, they are sometimes called antisynthetic transforms, i.e., the reverse of synthetic steps. An open arrow symbol, = , is used to indicate an antisynthetic transform. 

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