Beyond Round-Bottom Flasks: Enabling Technologies in Organic Synthesis Teaching

Abstract

Organic synthesis education has traditionally emphasized classical batch reactions and thermal activation, often with limited exposure to the strategies that currently shape synthetic practice. In contrast, enabling technologies such as continuous-flow chemistry and mechanochemistry and alternative activation methods like electrosynthesis and photocatalysis have expanded the synthetic toolbox by enabling new reactivity patterns and greater control over reaction parameters. Hereby, we discuss the integration of enabling technologies into the teaching of organic synthesis, highlighting their value for strengthening mechanistic reasoning, exploring the relationship between activation modes and chemical reactivity, and promoting active learning. Rather than replacing classical approaches, these technologies are presented as complementary tools that can broaden the conceptual understanding and better connect organic chemistry education with modern synthetic practices.