Methods in Organic Synthesis
Methods in organic synthesis refers to the ways that chemists make new molecules out of smaller parts. Think of it like building with Legos - you take a bunch of little Lego pieces and put them together to make something new and different.
When chemists want to make a new molecule, they start with the building blocks of organic chemistry, which are called functional groups. These functional groups are like the different shapes of Legos - some are squares, some are triangles, and so on.
Once the chemist has chosen the functional groups they want to use, they can start putting them together using different methods. Some of these methods involve heating or cooling the reaction mixture, while others involve adding chemicals to help the reaction go faster.
One common method of organic synthesis is called "functional group interconversion." This means that the chemist takes a molecule with one functional group, and converts it into a different molecule with a different functional group. For example, if you have a molecule with an alcohol (the Lego shape that looks like a chair), you can use a chemical reaction to turn that alcohol into a different functional group, like an aldehyde (the Lego shape that looks like a triangle).
Another method is called "protecting group chemistry." This is like putting a Lego block in a special case so that it doesn't get knocked off or changed during the building process. Sometimes, one functional group might get in the way of another functional group during a chemical reaction, so the chemist will "protect" that group by adding a different functional group that won't interfere with the reaction.
Overall, the methods of organic synthesis are how chemists create new molecules using the basic building blocks of organic chemistry. By changing the functional groups and using different methods, chemists can create a vast array of different molecules with different properties and uses.
When chemists want to make a new molecule, they start with the building blocks of organic chemistry, which are called functional groups. These functional groups are like the different shapes of Legos - some are squares, some are triangles, and so on.
Once the chemist has chosen the functional groups they want to use, they can start putting them together using different methods. Some of these methods involve heating or cooling the reaction mixture, while others involve adding chemicals to help the reaction go faster.
One common method of organic synthesis is called "functional group interconversion." This means that the chemist takes a molecule with one functional group, and converts it into a different molecule with a different functional group. For example, if you have a molecule with an alcohol (the Lego shape that looks like a chair), you can use a chemical reaction to turn that alcohol into a different functional group, like an aldehyde (the Lego shape that looks like a triangle).
Another method is called "protecting group chemistry." This is like putting a Lego block in a special case so that it doesn't get knocked off or changed during the building process. Sometimes, one functional group might get in the way of another functional group during a chemical reaction, so the chemist will "protect" that group by adding a different functional group that won't interfere with the reaction.
Overall, the methods of organic synthesis are how chemists create new molecules using the basic building blocks of organic chemistry. By changing the functional groups and using different methods, chemists can create a vast array of different molecules with different properties and uses.