Retrosynthetic analysis is a technique for solving problems in the planning of organic syntheses. This is achieved by transforming a target molecule into a sequence of progressively simpler stuctures until simple or commercially available molecules are reached. E.J. Corey formalized this concept in his book The Logic of Chemical Synthesis (1995, ISBN 0-471-11594-0).
Introduction
Just as chemical reactions can be viewed in the synthetic direction, from starting materials to products, reactions can also be viewed retrosynthetically: from products to starting materials. The goal of this analysis is structural simplification.
Definitions
- Retron
- A minimal molecular substructure that enables certain transformations.
- Synthon
- An idealized molecular fragment.
- Transform
- The exact reverse of a synthetic reaction; the formation of starting materials from a single product.
Strategies
Manipulation of functional groups can lead to significant reductions in molecular complexity.
Structure-Goal Strategies
Directing a synthesis toward a desirable intermediate can greatly narrow the focus of an analysis.
Transform-based Strategies
The application of transformations to retrosynthetic analysis can lead to powerful reductions in molecular complexity. Unfortuantely, powerful transform-based retrons are rarely present in complex molecules, and additional synthetic steps are often needed to establish their presence.
Topological Strategies
The identification one or more key bond disconnections may lead to the identification of key substructures or difficult to identify rearrangment transformations.
See also
External links
Last updated: 10-12-2005 08:11:20
