Question

What is involved in a multistep synthesis? What are some challenges and opportunities?

Answer 1

Multistep syntheses require more than one step, and so one or more intermediate compounds are formed along the way. Typical multistep synthesis problems give a starting material and a product and instruct you to devise a route that takes the starting material into the product. For example, you might be asked to convert starting material W into product Z using reagents you've learned.

For these types of problem you must provide a reagents to convert the starting material into one or more intermediate compounds that you will then further react in order to make the final product. Often there will be several steps in the synthesis. However no mechanism need to be shown for the individuals reaction in multistep synthesis problem. This is common mistake. For theses problem simply provide the reagents and the products of each step as you go along.

For example, we have to convert compound A to into compound B using multistep synthesis.

The way to answer these problems is to show the reagents that convert the starting material into the intermediate compounds, and, finally, into the product.

If you were asked to convert compound A into compound B, you might convert A into an intermediate compound (X), which could in turn be reacted to form another intermediate compound (Y), which could be reacted once more to form the product (Z).

A → X →Y →Z →B

Shortest route and proper implementation at every step of process can give inexpensive product.