BRAINCAKEDesigning Multi-Step Syntheses
AQA questions can ask you to devise a synthesis of up to four steps. A reliable method:
1. Compare the starting material and the target: note the functional groups and count the carbon atoms.
2. Chain length: if the target has one more carbon, include a cyanide step, KCN with a haloalkane (giving a nitrile) or with an aldehyde or ketone (giving a hydroxynitrile).
3. Work backwards from the target: which group could become the target group in one step? What makes that?
4. Link up the backward chain with the starting material.
5. For each step give the reagent(s), conditions and the name or structure of the intermediate.
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More in Organic Synthesis
- Organic Synthesis
- Synthetic Routes - Aliphatic Compounds
- Synthetic Routes - Aromatic Compounds
- Reaction Conditions and Reagents
- Reducing Steps and Hazardous Solvents
All 6 lessons in Organic Synthesis · All AQA A-level Chemistry topics