07. Synthesis of 1,2-Dimethylcyclopentane from Methylcyclopentane

This is a classic style of a synthesis where we’re starting with a simple alkane and need to make a new carbon-carbon bond somewhere in the molecule without adding any other functional groups. Of course, you cannot just stick a carbon chain to a molecule that doesn’t have any functional groups. Which means, that we’re first going to add functional groups here, make our carbon-carbon bonds, and then remove all the leftover functional groups to get the final result.

Reactions that we see in this synthesis are:

1. Radical halogenation
2. Grignard reaction
3. Elimination
4. Hydroboration-Oxidation
5. Oxidation of alcohols
6. Dehydration of alcohols
7. Reduction of alkenes