Synthetic Routes and Reaction Pathways

Synthetic routes are the step-by-step pathways chemists use to convert one organic compound into another. Think of them as recipes that show you exactly how to get from your starting material to your desired product.

The flowchart shows how aliphatic compounds (straight-chain organic molecules) can be transformed through various reactions. Each arrow represents a specific reaction with particular reagents and conditions needed to make the conversion work.

Alkanes sit at the centre as the most basic hydrocarbon structure. From here, you can create haloalkanes using halogens under UV light, or move to alkenes through elimination reactions using strong acids like H₃PO₄ or H₂SO₄ with heat.

The beauty of these pathways is their interconnectedness. Alcohols can be oxidised to aldehydes (using distillation with K₂Cr₂O₇/H₂SO₄) or ketones (using reflux conditions), whilst these carbonyl compounds can be reduced back using NaBH₄ or H₂/Ni.

Quick Tip: Primary alcohols oxidise to aldehydes then carboxylic acids, whilst secondary alcohols only oxidise to ketones - remember this pattern for your exams!

Carboxylic acids and their derivatives (esters, amides, acyl chlorides) form another important family. You can make esters from carboxylic acids using alcohols with concentrated H₂SO₄, or create amides via acyl chlorides with ammonia or primary amines.