Named Organic Reactions
Named organic reactions offer a limited but interesting method for searching
the literature and remembering key features of organic reactions. The
emergenc of ultrasonic, enzyme, microreactor and microwave enhanced
reactions rejuvenated many older named reactions approaching near oblivion.
Ionic liquids, supercritical fluids and novel aqueous solvent systems have
joined the frontier in facilitating organic reactions.
The mundane Maillard reaction familiar to food
chemists and the Amadori rearrarragement play important roles in
understanding the biochemical starting points for long-term complications of diabetes type 2.
A micro-review of the
Baeyer-Villiger oxidation
is available as a
pdf
file. There are twenty-eight examples plus additional references and
notes. Move your mouse over the image on the right for a glance at the
oxidation of 2-methylcyclohexanone to the corresponding lactone. Click the
image for a second animation in a new window. Mouse over the image and text
for fun and information. The general mechanism for conversion of ketone to ester is depicted
here. View a
slide representation.
Moving further with the concept of 'organic reaction snippets', here is a
quick look at the
Aza-Wittig Reaction; click to view in a new window. Move your mouse within
the window. A representation with sliding captions is given
here.
Although there are many textbooks and webs which are specifically dedicated to named
organic reactions, few discuss practical applications. The Favorskii
ring contraction can be applied in a route toward the synthesis of
puleganic acid.
(4R)(+)-pulegone is toxic to rats.
Named organic reactions which I have done in good yield are
listed.
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