How Can We Predict Catalysts and Conditions for Organic Reactions?

[hippopviolin]

!Organic chemistry reaction

I just wonder is there any ways to predict the catalyst and other conditions for a certain organic reaction to happen?

 

[Borek]

I am not an organiker so I can't give you detailed help, but there is no one answer to this question. Everything depends on the reaction. For some reactions (mechanisms) conditions (like teperature, solvent) are obvious as well as catalyst used (say strong acid). But for others it is trial and error. Sometimes educated trial and error, sometimes just trial and error.