The Best Laid Plans

Many of the most elegant syntheses of complex natural products are based on mechanistic speculation, as illustrated by the following postulated entry to stiychnine-based alkaloids. Thus, it was reasoned that treatment of the indole 1 with methyl chloroformate and a non-nucleophilic base followed by acid catalysed rearrangement would lead to the tetracycle 2. In practice, the first step worked well when Hiinig s base was used, but the second step, the acid catalysed rearrangement, failed to give 2. The only product, isolated in good yield, was the carbazole 3. 

Elucidate the proposed reaction sequence from 1 to 2 and suggest an explanation for the formation of 3. 

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Even the best-laid plans are subject to last minute changes and unexpected variables, and there is an element of uncertainty in every estimate. Some of the more common sources of variance include factors beyond your control, such as ... 

Either model of their brain results in an unconscious effort to botch the best laid plans and self-sabotage their career or love life. 

Humphrey Lytllelon said about a similar problem. "If I knew where jazz was going I d be there already." Developments in the international economy and in military relations among states are an additional source of uncertainty and indeterminacy, as are the unforeseen ecological changes that are constantly thwarting the best-laid plans. 

Human nature and emergency site production problems can interfere with the best-laid plans. 

Although science seemingly assures us that all obstacles can be overcome, the emerging exceptions continue to confound the experts, one after another. It is as if Nature remains a contrarian, in the end able to thwart the best-laid plans of mice and men. 

Even the best-laid plans can sometimes be changed by unanticipated events. An occupational safety management plan should include contingencies if certain aspects of the master plan prove to be unattainable. Alternative courses of action can be incorporated into each segment of the planning process, or for the plan in its entirety. The occupational safety manger must continually identify and analyze threats and vulnerabilities to assets, and recommend and implement appropriate countermeasures. 

It is notable that tosylate 87, derived from isomeric epoxide 86, available in turn by epoxidation of 82 in diethyl ether rather than dichloromethane, is also disposed to undergo fragmentation to 72. Unfortunately, when 87 was subjected to sodium hydride, a Williamson ether synthesis (87 —> 88) became competitive -with the desired fragmentation. Sometimes the best laid plans are undercut by nature. Regardless, the Syntex-Zoecon synthesis remains one of the least obvious, yet creative and successful, routes to Cecropia Juvenile Hormone. 

If your company is expanding overseas and you are designing machines, worksites or layouts that will be used by workers from other covmtries and cultures, it is critical that you get to know what attributes are different and how to design for these differences. Otherwise, the best-laid plans could blow up iu your face and even cause more iujuries and errors than they prevent, f di... 

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