Retrosynthetic analysis

Retrosynthetic analysis is a technique for solving problems in the planning of organic syntheses. This is achieved by transforming a target molecule into simpler precursor structures regardless of any potential reactivity/interaction with reagents. Each precursor material is examined using the same method. This procedure is repeated until simple or commercially available structures are reached. These simpler/commercially available compounds can be used to form a synthesis of the target molecule. E.J. Corey formalized this concept in his book The Logic of Chemical Synthesis.[1][2][3]

The power of retrosynthetic analysis becomes evident in the design of a synthesis. The goal of retrosynthetic analysis is a structural simplification. Often, a synthesis will have more than one possible synthetic route. Retrosynthesis is well suited for discovering different synthetic routes and comparing them in a logical and straightforward fashion.[4] A database may be consulted at each stage of the analysis, to determine whether a component already exists in the literature. In that case, no further exploration of that compound would be required. If that compound exists, it can be a jumping point for further steps developed to reach a synthesis.

  1. ^ E. J. Corey, X-M. Cheng (1995). The Logic of Chemical Synthesis. New York: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-11594-6.
  2. ^ E. J. Corey (1988). "Retrosynthetic Thinking – Essentials and Examples". Chem. Soc. Rev. 17: 111–133. doi:10.1039/CS9881700111.
  3. ^ E. J. Corey (1991). "The Logic of Chemical Synthesis: Multistep Synthesis of Complex Carbogenic Molecules (Nobel Lecture)" (Reprint). Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 30 (5): 455–465. doi:10.1002/anie.199104553.
  4. ^ James Law et.al:"Route Designer: A Retrosynthetic Analysis Tool Utilizing Automated Retrosynthetic Rule Generation", Journal of Chemical Information and Modelling (ACS JCIM) Publication Date (Web): February 6, 2009; doi:10.1021/ci800228y, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ci800228y