Research Trends in Organic Synthesis

The only area of chemistry that has been elevated to an art form by its practitioners is organic synthesis. Though there are esthetic elements in common, one should remember that in art, each piece is unique—any replicas are considered either cheap imitations or forgeries. This may explain why a first synthesis to a target molecule is venerated more than later versions even though they may be 

FIGU RE 2.7 (a) Graphics for the synthesis of triphenylmethane dyes, (b) Graphics for the synthesis of alizarin. 

In other cases, the oxidizing agent is a metal salt as shown by the following example, which juxtaposes two different reaction outcomes. 

The modern challenge in organic synthesis is the orchestration of efficiency by deliberate action. The idea is to choreograph optimization of all metrics in the same direction, like making music and melodies from individual notes. Whatever the reaction is under consideration the following key questions are always asked in the subject of organic synthesis  

Any reaction combination is possible so long as a suitable set of reaction conditions is found to carry out the transformation. Usually this entails finding the magic catalyst that will to do the trick. Modem organic chemistry is peeling away any constraints on what is doable, so making such a statement that any reaction is possible may not be so far fetched as it sounds. One should always be open-minded and not prejudge reaction outcomes. Chemistry is an empirical science that has 

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B-93MI 301-07 P. Navarro and M. I. Rodriguez-Franco Research Trends in Organic Synthesis, Council... 

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