Organic Chem

[BadBeat]

Anyone a whiz at chemistry? preferably Organic Chem? I'm goin back to school after 2 years, and this will probably be my toughest course.

Anyone knowledgeable in this area? Maybe be able to help in the future? or are there any good websites that provide information on Organic Chem?

 

[snailman2102]

yeah i'm good at ochem. actually i just went back and took the second semester after a few years off.
i thought this book was very helpful as a refresher and supplement:
ISBN = 0471272353
let me know if you have any questions.

 

[kittyinthedark]

There are quite a few people on this site very well versed in organic chem. I just completed my two (hellish) semesters of it. But don't let me scare you off - I took a special honors class in it, because I'm a total masochistic dumbass. If you need assistance, I'm sure people here can help you out, or a simple google search on the topic in question will usually do the trick.

 

[wizekrak]

3 books that will save your ass in addition to your text book.

1)Organic Chem as a second language by Klein

2)Organic chem 2 as a second language by Klein

3)Organic Reaction Mechanisms by Groutas

It isn't so bad. If you know why the mechanisms work the way they do, ie: electronegativites bond polarity and acid/base catalysis it isn't so bad. Never get behind and you'll do just fine. Most likely the largest pathways you'll need to memorize will be 7 or 8 steps at the most and much of that is repitition ie: isocyanate formation, ketal and acetal formation.

The most important advice I can give you is to understand the principles behind the mechanism instead of just memorizing them. Once you can do that you can basically infer what happens next if you get stuck.

 

[BadBeat]

Thanks wizekrak.. those books seem like they would be really helpful. Now we'll see if I can afford them. lol.