Why organic chemistry is hard (2)
Today’s post is about how a simple reaction can lead to all kinds of complications. I’m talking about the Grignard reaction here, although the principles
Read moreLearning Organic Chemistry Reactions: A Checklist (PDF)
Learning A New Organic Chemistry Reaction: A Checklist 1. Some Memorization Is OK. Recently, we tried to understand what instructors mean when they say, “Don’t Memorize!”,
Read moreOrganic Chemistry Study Tips: Super-Detailed Advice
The other day a student named Peter left several comments about his specific study methods in organic chemistry. I thought it was so useful that
Read moreThionyl Chloride (SOCl2) And Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to Acid Halides
Thionyl Chloride, SOCl2 – Reaction With Carboxylic Acids to Give Acid Halides Thionyl chloride (SOCl2) is a useful reagent for converting carboxylic acids to acid chlorides.
Read moreDiazomethane (CH2N2)
Reactions Of Diazomethane (CH2N2) And Their Mechanisms Diazomethane is a useful (albeit highly toxic and potentially explosive) reagent for the conversion of carboxylic acids to
Read moreBredt’s Rule (And Summary of Cycloalkanes)
Bredt’s Rule: Why Don’t Bridgehead Double Bonds Form? This post is all about Bredt’s Rule (1924): double bonds cannot be placed at the bridgehead of
Read moreElectrocyclic Reactions
Electrocyclic Reactions And 4-Membered Rings: Conrotatory and Disrotatory Ring Opening And Closure In this article, we investigate electrocyclic ring-opening and ring-closing in systems with 4
Read moreWhere Memorization Helps in O-Chem
Although in my last post I basically poo-poohed memorization as a study strategy, I don’t mean to imply that it does not have its place.
Read moreLearning vs. Memorization In Organic Chemistry
“Learn the concepts! Don’t memorize!”. It’s one of the most common sentences found in the many examples of instructors’ essays on “How to Succeed in
Read moreBlogaversary
Feb 18, 2010: Wasn’t sure what I was going to do with my career. I wanted to teach, but after two years of failed academic
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