What are some common mistakes students make with synthesis reactions?
1 Answer
Oftentimes I see people use reactions that are similar to other reactions, except they used the wrong one. Or, they used a reaction that would cause a deactivation of the starting reactant.
Some common reactant combinations that look similar...
Or, maybe someone wants to use a grignard reagent on a carboxylic acid. Won't work. It won't attack the carbonyl carbon nearly as much as it deprotonates the carboxyl hydrogen. You would have to convert it to an ester.