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 without assumptions regarding starting materials. Each precursor material is examined using the same method. This procedure is repeated until simple or commercially available structures are reached. 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 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 straightfoward 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.
Contents
- 1 Definitions
- 2 Example
- 3 Strategies
- 3.1 Functional group strategies
- 3.2 Stereochemical strategies
- 3.3 Structure-goal strategies
- 3.4 Transform-based strategies
- 3.5 Topological strategies
- 4 See also
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Definitions
- Disconnection
- A retrosynthetic step involving the breaking of a bond to form two (or more) synthons.
- Retron
- A minimal molecular substructure that enables certain transformations.
- Retrosynthetic tree
- A directed acyclic graph of several (or all) possible retrosyntheses of a single target.
- Synthon
- An idealized molecular fragment. A synthon and the corresponding commercially available synthetic equivalent are shown below:
- Target
- The desired final compound.
- Transform
- The reverse of a synthetic reaction; the formation of starting materials from a single product.
Example
An example will allow the concept of retrosynthetic analysis to be easily understood.
In planning the synthesis of phenylacetic acid, two synthons are identified. A nucleophilic "-COOH" group, and an electrophilic "PhCH2+" group. Of course, both synthons do not exist per se; synthetic equivalents corresponding to the synthons are reacted to produce the desired product. In this case, the cyanide anion is the synthetic equivalent for the −COOH synthon, while benzyl bromide is the synthetic equivalent for the benzyl synthon.
The synthesis of phenylacetic acid determined by retrosynthetic analysis is thus:
- PhCH2Br + NaCN → PhCH2CN + NaBr
- PhCH2CN + 2 H2O → PhCH2COOH + NH3
In fact, phenylacetic acid has been synthesized from benzyl cyanide,[5] itself prepared by the analogous reaction of benzyl chloride with sodium cyanide.[6]
Strategies
Functional group strategies
Manipulation of functional groups can lead to significant reductions in molecular complexity.
Stereochemical strategies
Numerous chemical targets have distinct stereochemical demands. Stereochemical transformations (such as the Claisen rearrangement and Mitsunobu reaction) can remove or transfer the desired chirality thus simplifying the target.
Structure-goal strategies
Directing a synthesis toward a desirable intermediate can greatly narrow the focus of an analysis. This allows bidirectional search techniques.
Transform-based strategies
The application of transformations to retrosynthetic analysis can lead to powerful reductions in molecular complexity. Unfortunately, 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 rearrangement transformations in order to identify the key structures .
- Disconnections that preserve ring structures are encouraged.
- Disconnections that create rings larger than 7 members are discouraged.
See also
- Organic synthesis
- Total synthesis
References
- ^ E. J. Corey, X-M. Cheng (1995). The Logic of Chemical Synthesis. New York: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-11594-0.
- ^ E. J. Corey (1988). "Retrosynthetic Thinking - Essentials and Examples". Chem. Soc. Rev. 17: 111–133. doi:10.1039/CS9881700111.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ Wilhelm Wenner (1963). "Phenylacetamide". Org. Synth. ; Coll. Vol., 4, p. 760
- ^ Roger Adams; A. F. Thal (1941). "Benzyl Cyanide". Org. Synth. ; Coll. Vol., 1, p. 107
External links
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Retrosynthetic analysis |
- Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics
- Presentation on ARChem Route Designer, ACS, Philadelphia, September 2008 for more info on ARChem see the SimBioSys pages.
- Retrosynthesis planning tool: ICSynth by InfoChem
