4.6. To Add or Edit a Retrosynthesis Pathway

The appropriate tool to add a retrosynthesis arrow is (go to the section "To Add an Arrow" for more information):

Figure 4-16. Retrosynthesis Arrow Tool

Use this tool to draw a retrosynthesis arrow between two steps of the pathway.

To build a path, first create all useful molecules and arrows.

Figure 4-17. Creation of the molecules and arrows.

Then, select the appropriate objects, right click, and select Create a new retrosynthesis path

Figure 4-18. Selection of the popup menu entry.

If GChemPaint is unable to build a retrosynthesis path from the selected objects, an error message is displayed.

There are some limitations to what is supported currently :

The path is created with a default object alignment. You can change how molecules are aligned by selecting a bond or an atom with the Select alignment item menu entry as explained in the section To Group and/or Align Objects

Figure 4-19. Built retrosynthesis path.

In the sample, one of the vertical bond of the cycle has been selected.

Figure 4-20. Custom aligned retrosynthesis path.

You can destroy the retrosynthesis path by selecting the Destroy the retrosynthesis path in the popup menu. The molecules and arrows will be ungrouped.

Retrosynthesis paths cannot be flipped or rotated.