Building Blocks for Organic Synthesis

Organometallic, oxidation, reduction, Grignard, and other reagents for organic synthesis

Chemical synthesis reagents are essential to transform building blocks into target molecules quickly, safely, and cleanly. The Thermo Scientific

portfolio includes over 5,000 organic synthesis reagents spanning a wide range of R&D applications. The compounds include reducing and

oxidizing reagents, organometallics, commonly used functional reagents, and specialty reagents for specific reactions.

Our organic synthesis products are available in a range of purity grades, concentrations, and pack sizes. Packaging options include our industry-leading AcroSeal packaging for safe handling of air- or moisture-sensitive, pyrophoric, or hazardous reagents. Our Custom and Bulk Chemical Services group can take you beyond the catalog to provide customized solutions for your unique organic synthesis needs.

Oxidation reagents, reduction reagents, and other common synthesis reagents

We offer a broad range of reagents and product subsets for organic synthesis, including relatively simple molecules like acetic anhydride, complex molecules like EDTA, and reagents that facilitate a wide variety of transformations.

Phenols

Phenols are organic aromatic compounds made of a phenyl functional group (C6H5) bonded to a hydroxyl functional group (OH).

Halogenation compounds

Halogen inorganic salts are inorganic compounds made of metals and halogen elements, including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

EDTA

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is an aminopolycarbcoxylic acid that readily binds to iron and calcium ions to form water-soluble complexes, even at neutral pH.

Acetic anhydrides

Acetic anhydrides are common electrophiles, as the leaving group is carboxylate. 

 

Examples of oxidation, reduction, and other reagents used in organic synthesis

Commonly requested reagents Available in pre-made solutions reagents High purity reagents
Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide Glutaraldehyde (25% and 50% in water) Sodium borohydride
Trifluoroacetic anhydride Sodium biphenyl (in diethylene glycol diethyl ether) N-bromosuccinimide
Oxalyl chloride Sodium methoxide (in methanol)  
Polypropylene glycol Borane-tetrahydrofuran complex (in THF)  

Organometallics

Organometallics and organometalloids are widely used in organic chemistry due to their diversity and versatility. Organometallic compounds contain at least one bond between the carbon atom of an organic compound and a metal atom, while organometalloids have at least one bond between a carbon and a semimetal.

Due to the electropositive nature of their metals, these compounds are highly reactive. Organometallics function in organic synthesis as strong bases, as nucleophiles, as reducing agents, and in metal exchange reactions.

Grignard reagents

Grignard reagents are highly reactive organomagnesium halides that react with most organic compounds as well as H2O, CO2, and O2. They are often used in reaction with aldehydes and ketones to form alcohols.

Organolithium compounds

Organolithium compounds possess direct bonds between carbon and lithium atoms. Organolithium reagents are strongly basic, highly reactive nucleophiles used to transfer organic groups or lithium atoms to substrates during organic synthesis reactions.

Organozinc compounds

Organozinc compounds are pyrophoric organometallics with direct bonds between carbon and zinc atoms. Available in various chemical compositions, they are less reactive than analogous organometallic reagents and often appear as intermediates in reactions.

Organotin compounds

Organotin compounds are based on tin with hydrocarbon substituents and commonly have an oxidation state of Sn(IV). Available in various chemical compositions, these compounds have multiple industrial and research applications.

Examples of other organometallic reagents used in organic synthesis

Reagent
Diisobutylaluminium hydride
Titanium(IV) n-butoxide
Octacarbonyldicobalt
Sodium 1-heptanesulfonate monohydrate

Organosilanes

Organosilanes are used in organic chemistry research for protecting groups to act as intermediates in organic synthesis.

 

Selected types of organosilanes used in organic synthesis

Type Usage
Silyls Protecting and derivatization reagents
Organosilanes Reducing agents
Silanes Cross-coupling chemistry
Allylsilanes Stabilization of a-carbanions and b-carbocations

Examples of organosilanes commonly used in organic synthesis

Reagent
Tetramethylsilane
Tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane
Triisopropylsilane
3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane
N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide

Named reaction reagents used in organic synthesis

Named chemical reactions—such as the Grignard reaction, Claisen rearrangement, and Clemmensen reduction, named after their discoverers一play a crucial role in organic synthesis and the creation of more complex and diverse chemical molecules.

The table lists major categories of named reactions used in organic synthesis along with key reactions in each category. For more information on their history, applications, and mechanisms, videos of key named reactions, and tables of building blocks for individual reactions, follow the links in the table toour Organic Chemistry Resources center.

Major categories and examples of named reactions used in organic synthesis

Category Selected reactions

Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions

  • An atom attached to an aromatic system is replaced by an electrophile
  • Although discovered many years ago, still frequently used in organic synthesis
Nucleophilic substitution reactions
  • An electron-rich nucleophile reacts with the positive charge of an atom or group of atoms to replace a leaving group
  • Facilitates the interconversion of functional groups

Heterocycle formation

  • A cyclic compound that has at least one element other than carbon (such as N, O, or S) as part of its ring structure
  • Heteroatoms give these compounds distinct physical and chemical properties

Transition metal-catalyzed couplings

  • A powerful methodology for the formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds
  • Used in both academic and industrial synthetic chemistry laboratories

Oxidation reactions

  • Chemical reactions in which a compound loses electrons (an increase in oxidation state) 
  • Originally referred to the addition of oxygen to a compound, but expanded to other reactions

Carbonyl compound reactions

  • A functional group consisting of a C atom joined to an O atom by a double bond
  • Present in many synthetically important functional groups

Reduction reactions

  • Chemical reactions in which a compound gains electrons (a reduction in oxidation state)
  • Originally referred to a gain of hydrogen or a loss of oxygen, but expanded to other reactions

Rearrangement reactions

  • A molecule's carbon skeleton is rearranged to provide a structural isomer of the original molecule
  • Often, a substituent moves from one atom to another in the same molecule

Electrophilic addition reactions

  • Attack of a primary substrate by an electrophile, joining two molecules to create a more complex compound
  • Substrate usually has a C-C double or triple bond

Free radical reactions

  • A free radical form of carbon possessing 3 single bonds and a single unpaired electron
  • Central in the production of plastics, synthetic rubber, and other synthetic materials

AcroSeal protective packaging for sensitive and hazardous reagents

AcroSeal is our industry-leading packaging solution for safe handling of air- and moisture-sensitive solvents, as well as pyrophoric and hazardous reagents.The AcroSeal sealing system was recently redesigned to make it both easier and safer to remove the whole system and place it back on the bottle securely without need of a special tool. This facilitates access to larger volumes of product and packaging recycling after use.

Resources for organic synthesis

Thermo Fisher Scientfic resources for organic synthesis include an eBook and online resources center detailing widely used named reactions such as the Grignard, Claisen, and Clemmensen reactions. Other organic synthesis resources include our interactive periodic table of elements search tool, our chemical structure search tool, and other Chemicals Resources.

Documentation and literature

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.