Organic synthesis routesAQA A-Level Chemistry: Mind map

Exam questions on Organic synthesis routes

1. A pharmaceutical company is redesigning the production of a drug intermediate. The existing process has five steps, is carried out in a chlorinated organic solvent and starts from a toxic compound. The company wants a greener process.
   Explain why chemists aim to design processes that use no solvent and that start from non-hazardous materials.2 marks
2. Ethanol can be made by two routes. Route A: hydration of ethene with steam, C₂H₄ + H₂O → C₂H₅OH. Route B: hydrolysis of bromoethane with aqueous sodium hydroxide, C₂H₅Br + NaOH → C₂H₅OH + NaBr. Relative atomic masses: H = 1.0, C = 12.0, O = 16.0, Na = 23.0, Br = 79.9.
   Use the atom economies to justify why a chemist would prefer Route A to Route B.2 marks
3. A research chemist plans to make organic compounds from simple starting materials. Only reactions from the A Level specification are to be used, and each synthesis may have up to four steps.
   Devise a two-step synthesis of propan-1-amine, CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₂, from bromoethane. For each step, give the reagents and conditions and the name or formula of the organic product.3 marks