Organic Synthesis

Organic synthesis is the art and science of building target molecules from simpler starting materials through a planned sequence of reactions. At A-Level, you are expected to plan multi-step synthesis routes, choose appropriate reagents and conditions for each step, and understand the logic of retrosynthetic analysis.

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The Goal of Organic Synthesis

In organic synthesis, you begin with a starting material (a simple, readily available compound) and transform it through a series of chemical reactions into a target molecule (the desired product). Each step in the sequence changes the functional group, the carbon skeleton, or both.

The challenge lies in choosing the right reactions in the right order, ensuring that each step is chemically feasible and that side reactions are minimised.

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Functional Group Interconversions

The core of A-Level synthesis planning is knowing which functional group can be converted into which other functional group, and what reagents and conditions are required for each conversion.

Key Conversions from Alkenes