Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Seven critical steps when a synthesis fails

chemrox - 19-4-2007 at 16:29

What to do when the published synthesis doesn’t work:

• Double check every step to be sure nothing important was overlooked

• Read the literature to see if there’s a general procedure and if there is, check to see if the synthesis is consistent with the information in the general procedure

• Write or call the author if he can be reached

• Go through the process step by step checking intermediates as you go

• Read any related literature you can find and check Beilsteins for intermediate workups

• Modify the process according to the above research and try again

• Run in circles, wave and shout

Ozone - 19-4-2007 at 17:44

The way I see it,

1) Read the literature to see if there’s a general procedure and if there is, check to see if the synthesis is consistent with the information in the general procedure. This includes Reading any related literature you can find and check Beilsteins for intermediate workups.

2) Acquire and purify your reagents. Seek out or improvise apparatus.

3) Try the experiment.

4) Double check every step to be sure nothing important was overlooked.

5) Go through the process step by step checking intermediates as you go.

6) Write or call the author if he can be reached (last resort).

7) Go back to the library...Run in circles, wave and shout, if you must.

For the hell of it,

O3

chemrox - 19-4-2007 at 20:42

7) was for the fun of it... I like these better than mine! You corrected the order. Thanks