[RaInBowDaSh1488]

I am taking Ochem and one of our assignments has been to create a multi-step synthesis using introductory level types of reactions. I have to use methane as my initial material (silly I know). Terrible yields aren't a big deal and it doesn't matter if the reaction is a god awful way of getting from A to B. Under the circumstances of the assignment its pretty much inevitable that it will hilariously bad.

Basically all that matters is that the synthesis is remotely theoretically possible. I would appreciate any feedback as to if my reaction is FUBAR at any point(s)  .

Thanks in advance

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[discodermolide]

Seems reasonable.
You have a lotos "not defined " oxidations. You may need to put an appropriate reagent in there.

[PhDoc]

If yields are not a concern, I see a way for you to reduce the preparation of your gamma lactam by a few steps starting with nitromethane and methyl acrylate. The reduction of the 4-nitro-butyric acid methyl ester intermediate using appropriate conditions might even proceed with concomitant lactam formation.

Nitromethane is produced commercially from propane or chloroacetic acid. How is chloroacetic acid prepared? Interestingly enough, acetic acid can be synthesized from methanol in one step. Look into this to see how many steps you can shave off your synthesis.

The most important component in any organic synthesis is to have 1-2 backup plans. Regardless of what backup plan you use, I believe your professor will be impressed that you considered it.

Good luck!

[rrr_asd]

I think this synthesis can be done differently.

[RaInBowDaSh1488]

If yields are not a concern, I see a way for you to reduce the preparation of your gamma lactam by a few steps starting with nitromethane and methyl acrylate. The reduction of the 4-nitro-butyric acid methyl ester intermediate using appropriate conditions might even proceed with concomitant lactam formation.

Nitromethane is produced commercially from propane or chloroacetic acid. How is chloroacetic acid prepared? Interestingly enough, acetic acid can be synthesized from methanol in one step. Look into this to see how many steps you can shave off your synthesis.

The most important component in any organic synthesis is to have 1-2 backup plans. Regardless of what backup plan you use, I believe your professor will be impressed that you considered it.

Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I've turned in this assignment, but many of the recommendations made are very interesting and clearly better than what I came up with.

4-nitro-butyric acid methyl ester as an intermediate is particularly interesting to me. What would be good conditions to reduce the nitro group but not the ester? I was thinking something like zinc/ammonium formate.