From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
In
chemistry a convergent
synthesis is a strategy that
aims to improve the efficiency of
multi-step
chemical synthesis. In
linear synthesis the overall
yield quickly drops with each
reaction step:
- A → B → C → D
Suppose the yield is 50% for
each reaction, the overall yield
of D is only 12.5% from A.
In a convergent synthesis
- A → B (50%)
- C → D (50%)
- B + D → E (25%)
the overall yield of E (25%)
looks much better. Convergent
synthesis is applied in the
synthesis of complex molecules
(see
total synthesis) and involve
fragment coupling and
independent synthesis.
Example:
- Convergent synthesis is
encountered in
dendrimer synthesis [1]
where branches (with the number
of generations preset) are
connected to the central core
See also:
divergent synthesis
Reference
[1] Convergent
Synthesis of Internally Branched
PAMAM Dendrimers Michael Pittelkow,
Jrn B. Christensen Org. Lett., 7
(7), 1295 -1298, 2005
