Oxidation And Reduction In Organic Synthesis

This series of short texts provides accessible accounts of a range of essential topics in chemistry and chemical engineering. Written with the needs of the student in mind, the Oxford Chemistry Primers offer just the right level of detail for undergraduate study, and will be invaluable as a source of material commonly presented in lecture courses yet not adequately covered in existing texts. All the basic principles and facts in a particular area are presented in a clear and straightforward style, to produce concise yet comprehensive accounts of topics covered in both core and specialist courses. This book is a short and up-to-date text on oxidation and reduction, suitable for undergraduates studying organic chemistry. Redox reactions are a theme that runs through the core of organic chemistry. An appreciation of what constitutes an oxidation, or a reduction, is essential to gain an understanding of chemical reactivity. A range of oxidation and reduction reactions is described, together with examples of these reactions being put to use in organ synthesis. The mechanisms by which oxidising and reducing agents operate are discussed, and this will lead to an appreciation of how to selectively oxidise, or reduce, one functional group in the presence of another. In addition, asymmetric variants of key redox reactions are discussed as these constitute the cutting edge of chemical methodology.