| Mistake | Correction | |---------|------------| | Writing “heat” without specifying reflux or distillation | Distillation for aldehydes, reflux for acids | | Missing catalyst for hydrogenation | H₂ needs Ni/Pt/Pd | | Using NaBH₄ for esters or acids | NaBH₄ only for aldehydes/ketones; use LiAlH₄ for –COOH, esters | | No solvent for Grignard | Must be dry ether or THF | | Forgetting acid work-up after Grignard | Essential to protonate alkoxide | | Using conc. H₂SO₄ alone for nitration | Need conc. HNO₃ + conc. H₂SO₄ | | Nitrating benzoic acid and getting para | –COOH is meta-directing |
If a molecule has both an amine and an alcohol, and you need to react the alcohol – protect the amine with Boc2O or CbzCl . Chemsheets problems rarely show this, but advanced answer keys include it. Chemsheets Organic Synthesis Problems Answers
Introduction
The students cheered, relieved and proud of their accomplishment. From that day on, they approached organic synthesis problems with a newfound sense of confidence and curiosity. And as for the mysterious thief? Let's just say they learned that the real treasure was the journey, not the answers themselves. | Mistake | Correction | |---------|------------| | Writing
: Highly reactive intermediates used to form esters and amides quickly. H₂SO₄ | | Nitrating benzoic acid and getting