Question

MIT hosts the template-based ASKCOS (“ASK-coss”) platform for performing this task, building on a rule-based approach to it first used in the 1972 computer program LHASA (“LAH-suh”). Machines learn this task by querying databases like KEGG (“keg”) and Reaxys (“ree-AX-is”) to find valid transformations between SMARTS (“smarts”) strings. Solutions to this (10[1])task are illustrated (10[1])using hollow arrows that point in the anti·thetic (10[1])direction. Ideal (10[2])solutions to this task may rely on domino or telescoping steps to reduce work-up. This task requires (10[2])Umpolung (10[2])if the (10[1])polarities do not alternate. An approach to this task that strategically disconnects retrons to find convenient starting (10[2])materials (10[1])was pioneered by E.J. (10[1])Corey. (10[3])The “total” (10[1])form of (10[1])this task (10[1])targets natural products with many (10[1])stereo·centers, (10[1])like Taxol. For 10 points, name this task of assembling complex organic molecules from smaller ones. ■END■ (10[2]0[1])

ANSWER: organic synthesis [or retrosynthesis; or retrosynthetic analysis; or total synthesis; or similar answers describing the planning, design, or execution of the synthesis of organic molecules; or planning organic reactions or reaction pathways to make molecules; or the prediction of chemical reactions; reject “molecular design” or “drug design” or similar answers that do not mention the formation of a molecule]
<Chemistry>
= Average correct buzz position

Summary

2023 ACF Nationals04/22/2023Y24100%0%0%88.92

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Nikhil ChellamNorthwestern ANorth Carolina A4510
Matt SchiavonePurdue AMichigan A4810
Jacob Van OorschotMcGill APenn A5610
Shahar SchwartzUC Berkeley AIndiana A5810
Ethan AshbrookMinnesota ATexas A5810
Geoffrey ChenCornell AFlorida A7510
Adam FineChicago ABrown A7510
Eric WolfsbergStanford AChicago B7610
Geoffrey WuColumbia AChicago C7610
Mazin OmerHarvard ACornell B7810
Andrew HannaVanderbilt AMinnesota B9510
Matthew LehmannWUSTL AGeorgia Tech A9510
Caleb KendrickMaryland AYale A9610
Noah ChenColumbia BImperial A10010
JD KrothIowa State ASouth Carolina A10110
Rohan ShelkeUC Berkeley BFlorida B10110
Neal JoshiWUSTL BPenn State A10110
Clark SmithOhio State ADuke A10310
Ricky LiMIT AToronto A10510
Frederick Rivas-GiorgiYale BIllinois A10710
Jonathan LauJohns Hopkins ANYU A11210
Joelle SmartRutgers AGeorgia Tech B11310
Collin AceRutgers BHouston A13010
Kevin ParkClaremont AVirginia A13010
David BassVirginia AClaremont A1300