Synthesis
A major difference between laboratories of physical chemistry and physical organic chemistry is that the latter use the synthesis of molecules with well designed chemical and physical properties as a major tool for their research. Thus, the most crucial step for the generation of reactive intermediates is the synthesis of suitable precursors. In many cases, selective isotopic labelling allows to gain detailed insight into reaction mechanisms.
Because the matrix isolation technique is essentially a preparative method, one can isolate and synthesize molecules which are not accessible by any other method. The goal is to improve the yield and to obtain detailed spectra of the matrix-isolated species. Conversely, the knowledge of reaction mechanisms allows one to optimize yields of conventional syntheses or even develop new syntheses. Thus, after unraveling the mechanism of the photooxygenation of diazo compounds we were able to develop a synthesis of stable dioxiranes in preparative yields.
