How would you approach the synthesis of a complex natural product?

Sample interview questions: How would you approach the synthesis of a complex natural product?

Sample answer:

Approaching the Synthesis of a Complex Natural Product

1. Target Identification: Precisely define the target molecule’s structure and identify its specific properties.

2. Retro-Synthetic Analysis: Deconstruct the target molecule into simpler building blocks using backward reasoning to identify potential synthetic pathways.

3. Functional Group Analysis: Identify the key functional groups and their reactivity to determine appropriate strategies for their incorporation.

4. Reaction Route Optimization: Explore various reaction routes, considering factors such as regioselectivity, stereoselectivity, and reaction efficiency.

5. Reagents and Catalysts: Select the most effective reagents and catalysts for each step based on their specificity, reaction conditions, and availability.

6. Protecting Group Strategy: Devise a protection and deprotection scheme to control the reactivity of specific functional groups during multi-step synthesis.

7. Stereochemical Control: Implement strategies to control the stereochemistry of the target molecule, especially for chiral compounds.

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