most important orgo reactions and spec crap

[minutemen11]

---

Members don't see this ad.

how detailed should i know mcat orgo reactions in the kaplan/other review books. i think id be able to figure out most of them if i really think about it for a while but you dont get that kind of time on the mcat.. should i memorize these? i know that carbonyl chem and carboxy. acid derivatives are very very important..

also, I hate memorizing the ppm peaks and IR/NMR spec data.. do i need to memorize them? ive seen a lot of random questions testing pure IR/NMR values, which is ridiculus because this is just freakin reference material.. i mean, its almost as useless as trying to memorize what every codon corresponds to! AHH!! i hate IR and anything spectroscopy

 

[capn jazz]

IR:
-OH 3000-3500 broad
-C=O 1700 sharp
-CN 2250
-CH stretching 2950

I only include the last two because the AAMC official guide has a question that requires knowing them.

NMR:
-downfield = deshielded due to EWG
-know how to tell how many peaks will appear in a molecule's H NMR, equivalent Hs, etc
-the only value to know might be the aldehyde H at 9.5 ppm
-deuterium doesn't show up on H NMR so a rxn involving adding D in place of H will remove peaks