How does a retrosynthetic analysis propose a way to synthesize an organic compound?

a.The analysis begins with an easy to obtain starting material and then adding on individual atoms to make the desired product.
b.The analysis begins with the product and successively breaks bonds that can be formed through known chemical reactions in order to break the desired product into smaller pieces.
c.The analysis begins with easy to obtain starting materials and then adding on individual atoms in order to connect them to make the desired product.
d.The analysis begins with easy to obtain starting materials and then proposing how to combine them to make the desired product.
e.The analysis begins with the product and randomly breaks bonds in order to break the desired product into smaller pieces.

The correct answer is b. The retrosynthetic analysis begins with the product and successively breaks bonds that can be formed through known chemical reactions in order to break the desired product into smaller pieces.

Retrosynthetic analysis is a process used in organic chemistry to plan a synthesis of a target molecule. It involves working backward from the desired product to identify suitable starting materials or building blocks. The goal is to break down the target molecule into simpler fragments, which can be obtained from readily available starting materials.

In the retrosynthetic analysis, chemists use their knowledge of chemistry and known reactions to identify the most logical and efficient way to synthesize the target molecule. By breaking down the target molecule into smaller fragments, they can then plan on how to connect these fragments through known reactions to achieve the desired product.

So, option b is the correct answer because it describes the process of breaking bonds in the desired product to identify smaller fragments that can be obtained from known reactions.