Success in an experimental science such as chemistry depends on good laboratory practice, a knowledge of basic techniques, and the intelligent and careful handling of chemicals.

Practical Organic Synthesis is a concise, useful guide to good laboratory practice in the organic chemistry lab with hints and tips on successful organic synthesis. Topics covered include:

• safety in the laboratory
• environmentally responsible handling of chemicals and solvents
• crystallisation
• distillation
• chromatographic methods
• extraction and work-up
• structure determination by spectroscopic methods
• searching the chemical literature
• laboratory notebooks
• writing a report
• hints on the synthesis of organic compounds
• disposal and destruction of dangerous materials
• drying and purifying solvents

Practical Organic Synthesis is based on a successful course in basic organic chemistry laboratory practice which has run for several years at the ETH, Zurich and the University of Berne, and its course book Grundoperationen, now in its sixth edition.

Condensing over 30 years of the authors’ organic laboratory teaching experience into one easy-to-read volume, Practical Organic Synthesis is an essential guide for those new to the organic chemistry laboratory, and a handy benchtop guide for practising organic chemists.