Mechanism and Synthesis

This book pursues possible strategies for synthesising mainly organic compounds, particularly those of interest to the health sector and related industries.

Topics covered include addition reactions of aldehydes and ketones; the use of organometallic reagents to form carbon-carbon bonds (for example, Grignard reagents); and radical reactions, including selectivity and chain reactions.

Retrosynthetic analysis is introduced as a strategy for developing syntheses, along with biochemical pathways.

The text concludes with a case study on polymers, which demonstrates how chain reactions can be used to build up useful materials with specific properties, such as contact lenses.