OChem in Destroyer

[Hokie08]

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I'm having a lot of difficulty in the organic chem. section in Destroyer. I have read through the Kaplan blue book but still have trouble because I am not good at just memorizing that "this does this to that." Any suggestions to what I should do to study? I tried memorizing the road maps but I learn one thing and forget something else. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[whoaaitzkyle]

I'm having a lot of difficulty in the organic chem. section in Destroyer. I have read through the Kaplan blue book but still have trouble because I am not good at just memorizing that "this does this to that." Any suggestions to what I should do to study? I tried memorizing the road maps but I learn one thing and forget something else. Thanks for any suggestions.

For the most part, I really like ochem because it makes sense. It is a lot of memorization but I think once you have the basics down it will all come together. It might help to make sure you have your fundamentals down solid before you move onto mechs (i.e. radical stability, cation, acidity, resonance, etc) Since a lot of reactions use these basic concepts (i.e. Br2 in hv is radical bromination) you would know it's going to create the most stable radical, which means the Br will add to the most substituted side.

Keep with the destroyer...it is a great book and once you understand the concepts in there you should be set! 🙂

 

[sts2385]

You should make sure to read the destroyer solutions carefully as they are like mini lectures. If there is something in the solution you don't understand, then go to your Organic textbook or any other book for answers. The destroyer is definitely very challenging... but keep on plugging! Good luck!

 

[Saber tooth]

Simply make index cards and/or redraw the road maps... the more you see what the reaction produces the better you will understand it... certainly some of it is memorizing but a lot is understanding...

Interesting note a lot of the reactions are simple Acid Base reacitons

Hope that helps

 

[summergirl84]

i write down any reaction i come across in destroyer, kaplan, etc on an index card with the product on the flip side then i sort them in order according to reagents. I have found this really helpful but there could be a downside to this like maybe missing the mechanism.. in the corner i also put the name of reaction like aldol condensation or witting, etc. hope this helps!

 

[Decan]

Notecards are the way to go with the destroyer...

 

[alltheway]

notecards, rewriting them on sheets of papar, and then testing yourself is the best way to do this. That's how I got through Orgo 1.

 

[Hokie08]

Other than the road maps in destroyer, what reactions are important to know?