Chapter 13, Problem 13.5P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The synthesis of $\text{2-benzyl-3-phenylpropanal}$ from $\left(\text{bromomethyl}\right)\text{benzene}$ (benzyl

chloride) using any reagents containing two or fewer carbon atoms is to be proposed.

Concept introduction:

A synthesis is a specific sequence of chemical reactions that converts starting materials to the desired compound, called the target (or synthetic target). Synthesis may be designed by thinking in the reverse direction, from the product to the starting compound, in a method called retrosynthesis. Retrosynthesis involves starting with the product and determining a suitable precursor from which it can be synthesized, without considering specific reactions. The precursor must be a simpler molecule, which may or may not have a close structural relation to the target molecule. This process is repeated until an easily available (or easily prepared) precursor is reached. Each of these steps is called a transform.