Which term refers to the preparation of desired organic compounds from readily available starting materials?

The term that refers to the preparation of desired organic compounds from readily available starting materials is organic synthesis. This process involves a series of chemical reactions that convert simpler substances into more complex organic compounds. Organic synthesis techniques are crucial in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, where specific compounds need to be created in controlled environments for medical use.

In organic synthesis, chemists design and execute multi-step reactions to transform raw materials into target molecules, often optimizing conditions to improve yield and purity. This is a foundational concept in organic chemistry and reflects the creativity and methodological approaches chemists employ to build complex organic structures.

The other terms do not encompass this specific meaning. Biochemical reactions are broader and refer to any transformation involving biological molecules, whereas catalysis specifically deals with the acceleration of chemical reactions typically involving catalysts. Metabolic pathways refer to the series of chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to sustain life processes but do not specifically focus on the preparation of compounds from starting materials in the way organic synthesis does.