Question

when would formation of a derivative be a necessary step in the experiment

Answer 1

Ans > The formation of a derivative being a neccesary step in the experiment lies in the importance of the derived structure. Often the derivatised product confers to reaction pathways which uses less reactive starting materials and more easily proceeds to completion. This also allows us to take a small amount of analyte. The derivatised product at times is a general compound allowing its easy analysis. Often we encounter a product but we find it difficult to analyse it in ways we want. Here lies the essence of forming a derivative which ofetn are simpler compounds allowing easier analysis yet having simillar functional groups ans srtuctural properties. Also sometimes we encounter problems when our desired product is unstable and forms stable degraded products. But if we somehow manage to synthesise a derivative it may be relatively stable and form no degradation products. It would be stable atleast for a significant period of time making it easier to study its properties. The derivatisation product also at times are synthesised using general reaction pathways facilitating a way of easier synthesis and helping it to correlate with other simillar reaction pathways and products.So the above paragraph accounts for the need of derivatisation. When we encounter probelms simillar to those mentioned above it becomes necessary for a researcher to form rather synthesise a derivative.