C07B - Definition

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Methods of chemistry when specially adapted for organic chemistry and of general applicability in that field, in which the method itself is of interest rather than the product, e.g. such methods as:

• Reduction and oxidation in general;
• Reactions with or without formation or introduction of functional groups containing heteroatoms;
• Grignard reactions;
• Introduction of protecting groups or activating groups;
• Asymmetric syntheses;
• Racemisation;
• Complete or partial inversion;
• Separation of optically-active compounds;
• Introduction of isotopes of elements into organic compounds;
• Purification;
• Separation;
• Stabilisation.

Apparatus for carrying out the above mentioned reactions and methods.

Relationship between large subject matter areas

General reactions and methods where the subject matter to be classified concerns the method or reaction per se and not its special adaptation to the actual product, are classified in this subclass. Preparation, purification, separation or stabilisation of defined compounds are classified in C07C-C07K.

When classifying in this subclass, classification is also made in group B01D 15/08 insofar as subject matter of general interest relating to chromatography is concerned.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Preparation of carboxylic acid esters by telomerisation	C07C 67/47
Processes for preparing macromolecular compounds, e.g. telomerisation	C08F, C08G
Fermentation or enzyme-using processes to synthesise a desired chemical compound or composition or to separate optical isomers from a racemic mixture	C12P
Production of organic compounds by electrolysis or electrophoresis	C25B 3/00, C25B 7/00

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Preparation, separation, purification, or stabilization of hydrocarbons	C07C 1/00-C07C 7/00
Preparation, separation, purification, or stabilization of unsubstituted lactams	C07D 201/00
Process for the preparation of steroids, in general	C07J 75/00
General process for the preparation of peptides	C07K 1/00
Organic dyes	C09B

Special rules of classification

In this subclass, the functional group which is present already in some residue being introduced and is not substantially involved in a chemical reaction, is not considered as the functional group which is formed or introduced as a result of the chemical reaction.

In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place according to the type of reaction employed, noting the bond or the functional group which is formed or introduced as result of the chemical reaction.

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Asymmetric synthesis	Process that produce optically active compounds from symmetrically constituted molecules by the intermediate use of optically active reagents, but without the use of any of the methods of resolution.
Functional group	Group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for certain properties of the molecule and reactions in which it takes part.
Grignard reaction	Addition of organomagnesium compounds (Grignard reagents) to carbonyl groups or other unsaturated groups to give alcohols or ketones.
Inversion	The spatial rearrangement of atoms or groups of atoms in a dissymmetric molecule, giving rise to a product with a molecular configuration that is a mirror image of that of the original molecule.
Racemisation	Conversion, by heat or by chemical reaction of an optically active compound into an optically inactive form in which half of the optically active substance becomes its mirror image (enantiomer). This change results in a mixture of equal quantities of dextro- and levorotatory isomers, as result of which the compound does not rotate plane-polarized light to either right or left since the two opposite rotations cancel each other.
Separation	Means separation only for the purposes of recovering organic compounds