Mnemonics for Organic Chem Reactions?

[Ludacris]

Do any mnemonics exist to remember Organic Chem reactions (mechanisms)??

This would help a lot.

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[BerkReviewTeach]

Do any mnemonics exist to remember Organic Chem reactions (mechanisms)??

This would help a lot.

Mnemonics, not really. Mechanisms are thought processes and not facts, so mnemonics might not be useful.

There are definitely algorithms. Acid-catalyzed mechanisms follow a very similar pattern. If you can identify reaction types such as addition to a ?-bond (be it a diene or carbonyl), substitution (of either sp2 or sp3 carbons), electrocylcic reactions (such as the Diels-Alder) and so forth, then that will be a great start in helping you remember and identify nearly any mechanism they could present.

Organizing reactions by reaction types, and thus by similar mechanisms, will go a long way in helping you learn and recall the material.

Two preemptive comments
1. While reactions of alkenes, alkynes, and benzenes are not tested, dienes for some silly reason are still tested.
2. If you are thinking of substitution as being only SN1 and SN2, there are also substitution reactions of carbonyl compounds on the MCAT.

 

[SN2ed]

As BerkReviewTeach stated, there really aren't any mnemonics. The best bet for O-chem is to learn what makes a good or bad acid, base, electrophile, and nucleophile. Also another helpful thing to know is: A chemical reaction is the movement of electrons from electron density to electron deficiency resulting in the making and breaking of bonds. If you look at most of the reactions they can usually be solved from this and a little knowledge of resonance, Sn rxns, and E rxns. Of course, it can get much more complicated, but on the MCAT it will probably be basic O-chem that just looks hard. Knowledge of functional groups is also good.

 

[Ludacris]

Cool, thanks. I think I have an alright handle on them now.