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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: jayana on April 24, 2008, 05:39:26 PM

Title: Difference between Total synthesis & Fromal synthesis??
Post by: jayana on April 24, 2008, 05:39:26 PM

Hey y'all,

Please, anyone, could u explain the difference between Total and Formal synthesis??

Thanks,
Jay

Title: Re: Difference between Total synthesis & Fromal synthesis??
Post by: sjb on April 25, 2008, 03:37:01 AM

My understanding of the terms are that if you have a natural product N, and you follow the synthetic pathway A + B -> C -> F -> N, where A, B and all the reagents required can either be bought, or made from the literature (not necessarily the exact reagents, mind, but perhaps analogues too, so if an ethyl ester is described but you need a methyl ester, that's fine) then that's a total synthesis.

A formal synthesis would be finding an alternative pathway to C or F in this instance, but not necessarily completing to N. Look into the recent Woodward quinine synthesis story for some more information, perhaps.

S