Structure Determination Case Study: Deer Tarsal Gland Pheromone
A Roadmap For Structure Determination of Organic Compounds Male black-tailed deer emit a pheromone from their tarsal gland that attracts female deer. Say you had
Read moreHow to Use a pKa Table
Today we’ll talk about an incredibly important skill that might take some time to grasp but pays tremendous dividends. We’ll go through the exact details of how to use a pKa table. Understanding the proper use of a pKa table will give you the ability to recognize which acid-base reactions will happen and which will not. This will come up a lot as you progress through Org 1 and Org 2. It might be helpful to go back and review some of the factors that affect acidity that were talked about earlier.
Read moreThe pKa Table Is Your Friend
The importance of pKa values in organic chemistry can’t be overestimated, in my opinion. Not knowing pKa values in organic chemistry is like not knowing
Read moreGrignard Reagents For Addition To Aldehydes and Ketones
Grignard Reagents: Their Formation, Reactions, And Reaction Mechanisms Today’s reagent is one that most students have experience in making at some point or another. Grignard
Read moreNucleophilicity vs. Basicity
Understanding The Differences Between Nucleophilicity vs Basicity Following up on Nucleophiles and Electrophiles, here’s a common question students have about nucleophilicity: 1. What’s the difference
Read moreNumber Your Carbons!
My one-sentence advice to those about to write an exam: Number your carbons. Now go write your exam. If you need reasons, here they are.
Read moreWhat Makes A Good Nucleophile?
Factors That Determine Whether A Species Is A Good Nucleophile If you read the last post, you’ll recall that a nucleophile is a species that
Read moreWhat Makes A Good Leaving Group?
Good Leaving Groups Are Weak Bases A leaving group (a.k.a. “nucleofuge”) is the new Lewis base that is generated in various substitution and elimination reactions when
Read more3 Factors That Stabilize Carbocations
Carbocations: Properties, Formation, and Stability Carbocations are electron-deficient species with an empty p-orbital Lacking a full octet and bearing a positive charge, they tend to
Read moreOrganic Chemistry Study Tips: How to use a “Study Buddy”
I can’t claim credit for this idea but unfortunately I can’t remember where I read it either. Here’s a helpful and quick way to make
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