Organic Synthesis Flashcards
Which elements can never have more than four pairs (full octet)?
2nd row elements
e.g. B, C, N, O, F
How can you check the octet rule when drawing a mechanism?
If the arrow you’re drawing would lead to 5 pairs (on a 2nd row element), you must draw another arrow to move away one of its bonds/pairs
Where does the reactive of carbonyls come from?
The electronegative O and the electropositive C
In carbonyls, what is the O subject to attack by?
The electronegative O is subject to attack from electrophiles
In carbonyls, what is the C subject to attack by?
The electropositive C is subject to attack from nucleophiles
What is the order of reactivity of electrophiles (descending order)?
Most reactive
Acid chloride
Anhydride
Aldehyde
Ketone
Ester
Amide
Least reactive
How does the electron withdrawing ability of the connected X group for carbonyls influence reactivity?
The more electron withdrawing X is, the more reactive the carbonyl group is.
For example, acid chlorides are the most reactive, as Cl (X) is very electron withdrawing
Why do esters and amides have low reactivity?
Because they have lone pairs (from the attached N/O) that can be donated to reduce electrophility
What carbonyl groups undergo nucleophilic addition, and what is the product?
Ketones and aldehydes undergo electrophilic addition, when subjected to Me-MgBr. The product is an alcohol
How is aldehyde/ketone nucleophilic addition quenched?
By addition of water, which will stop the reaction by turning O- to OH
What carbonyl groups undergo nucleophilic addition/elimination?
Esters, anhydrides, acid chlorides and amides
Why do the prior mentioned groups undergo nucleophilic/addition reactions, and ketones/aldehydes not?
Because the R/H groups of aldehydes/ketones are poor leaving groups, whereas other groups like Cl and O are good leaving groups
How do you get from an ester to a primary alcohol?
LiAlH4 and H2O
How do you get to a carboxylic acid from a primary alcohol/aldehyde?
Jones oxidation:
CrO3, H+ (H2SO4) and acetone solvent
How do you get from a carboxylic acid to an ester?
MeOH in presence of H+ catalyst
How do you get from alcohol to aldehyde/ketone?
PCC oxidation:
Cl-CrO3- and Ar-N+-H
What is the advantage of PCC oxidation?
It can oxidise alcohols to ketones/aldehydes, without fully oxidising all the way to carboxylic acid
How do you get from an aldehyde/ketone to an alcohol?
LiAlH4 or NaBH4
Upon addition of R-MgBr and H2O (quench), what do the following become:
Aldehyde
Ketone
Ester
Acid chloride
Carbon dioxide
Aldehyde -> Secondary alcohol
Ketone -> Tertiary alcohol
Ester -> Tertiary alcohol with 2 identical groups
Acid chloride -> Ketone
Carbon dioxide -> Carboxylic acid
How many R-MgBr equivilants are required to turn ester -> tertiary alcohol?
2 eq. or more
How many R-MgBr equivilants are required to turn acid chloride -> ketone?
1 eq.
What is orthogonal protection?
A strategy of organic synthesis that allows groups to be removed independent of each other
How can protecting groups be classified orthogonally?
Protecting groups can be classified according to the conditions used for removing them
What are the 4 different ways of removing protecting groups (deprotecting)?
- Acid
- Base
- Hydrogenation
- Fluoride
What is the protecting group for aldehydes/ketones?
Acetal
How do you turn a ketone/aldehyde into an acetal?
2 eq. of R”OH (catalysed by H+)
What alcohol is often used to turn ketones/aldedehydes into acetals and why?
Diols, as otherwise acetal formation is entropically disfavoured
What does transforming a ketone/aldehyde into an acetal protect from?
It will reduce nucleophiles (including hydride reducing agents like LiAlH4) and oxidising reagents
How do you turn acetal back into a ketone/aldehyde?
(Excess) H2O, catalyst H+