When it comes to orgo, it's the weeding process of death. It's a class that requires understanding as oppose to memory. Also its involves materials from gen chem., like physical properties of bonds and acid and base. So make sure you understand your gen. chem as a foundation. After that, understand each of the different kinds of functional groups (e.g. alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, etc.) And like the couple of messages above, DO THE PROBLEMS!!! But don't just go through motion when your doing the problems, analyze why reactions and/or synthesis go the way they do. For example, a carbonyl group is a C=O where resonance (movement of e-) can occur. C=O ----> +C-O-. At this point if you have a weak nucleophile, the "O" has to be protonated in order for the weak nucleophile to attack the "C". So you would acid in hopes of protonation and then add the weak nucleophile. If you had a strong nucleophile, then isn't necessary to protonate the "O". I'm sure there are other way, e.g., solvents and/or reagents to get to the final product that you want in a reaction or synthesis. BTW, if you can, find some students to do study sessions with and toss questions at each other. Example: How would you get _________ by using _______ and ___________ ? I'm sure this and the other tips that you're getting from this website will be sufficent. 😎 😎
