ORGO II ADVICE

[RSK25]

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I will be taking organic chemistry II next semester. Anyone has any good advice for me? I want to get ahead. The following topics will be covered.

Chapter 13
WS1 – Conjugated Molecules
Chapters 13-14
WS2 – The Diels-Alder Reaction
Chapters 14-15
WS3 – Aromaticity
Chapter 15
Special Topic G
WS4 – Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Midterm exam 1 on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 8:45-10:15 pm.
Chapter 16
WS5 – Organometallics
Chapters 16-17
WS6 – Aldehydes and Ketones I
Chapters 17-18
WS7 – Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Chapters 18-19
WS8 – Aldehydes and Ketones II (Enols and Enolates)
Midterm exam 2 on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 8:45-10:15 pm.
Chapter 19
WS9 – Conjugate Addition
Chapter 20
WS10 – Amines
Chapter 21
WS11 – Phenols and Aryl Halides
Chapter 22
WS12 – Carbohydrates

 

[kyamh]

Study hard. Don't forget the basics. Remember that Orgo isn't that bad, plenty of students get A's.

 

[3931]

I found a particular professor that posted helpful O.C Videos on Youtube, "freelance teach."

 

[Sassafrass23]

It's really not so bad. Ochem 2 was a lot more memorization than Ochem 1. Just stay on your reaction note cards (because there are a lot of them) and you'll be fine. I brought mine on the bus with me and just flipped through them on the way to class every day.

 

[invissideways]

Review your basics from orgo 1. And when it comes time to start chapter 17/18, make sure you're on track with everything since all of that stuff builds on each other from thereon out (more so than other topics)

 

[ruedjgtc]

I will be taking organic chemistry II next semester. Anyone has any good advice for me? I want to get ahead. The following topics will be covered.

In general Organic II is easier than Organic I because not much conceptually is added, it's just just a bunch of reactions. If you conceptually were fine with Organic I then II shouldn't be that bad. I was an Organic Chemistry tutor for almost two years, here's how my student's felt about it:

Chapter 13
WS1 – Conjugated Molecules &
Chapter 19
WS9 – Conjugate Addition
Chapters 18-19
WS8 – Aldehydes and Ketones II (Enols and Enolates)
Midterm exam 2 on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 8:45-10:15 pm.

Chapter 13 is important to understand Chapter 19.

Chapters 13-14
WS2 – The Diels-Alder Reaction

Not hard, just memorize it.

Chapters 14-15
WS3 – Aromaticity

Important concept, very very high yield.

Chapter 15
Special Topic G
WS4 – Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution

If you're terrible at aromaticity you're screwed.

Chapter 16
WS5 – Organometallics

Typically people find these to be easy, and you'll probably use it a lot when you want to synthesize stuff.

Chapters 16-17
WS6 – Aldehydes and Ketones I
Chapters 17-18
WS7 – Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives

All of them are related, you just need to know a few reactions with them. You should also know which oxidizing/reducing agents work. Also, be sure to know how to use protection groups, it'll make your life a lot easier on exams.

Chapter 20
WS10 – Amines
Chapter 21
WS11 – Phenols and Aryl Halides
Chapter 22
WS12 – Carbohydrates

Memorization + small conceptual work.

 

[RSK25]

In general Organic II is easier than Organic I because not much conceptually is added, it's just just a bunch of reactions. If you conceptually were fine with Organic I then II shouldn't be that bad. I was an Organic Chemistry tutor for almost two years, here's how my student's felt about it:

I struggled in Orgo I. I had hard time doing synthesis. Some problems i would get right away. Some I wouldn't. I struggled with stereochem as in visualization. Predicting products was not that easy but if i knew reaction, i knew what to do. Also, for mechanism, I know how the arrow flows but sometimes they wouldn't make sense to me. So, I would be hesistant. That's how i wasted time. In other cases, I did not know the reaction. So, i had to figure out. Timing was a big issue for me.

I am reading chapter 13 right now. I also want to tackle these problems i encountered in Orgo I. Any advice since you tutored.

 

[ruedjgtc]

I struggled in Orgo I. I had hard time doing synthesis. Some problems i would get right away. Some I wouldn't. I struggled with stereochem as in visualization. Predicting products was not that easy but if i knew reaction, i knew what to do. Also, for mechanism, I know how the arrow flows but sometimes they wouldn't make sense to me. So, I would be hesistant. That's how i wasted time. In other cases, I did not know the reaction. So, i had to figure out. Timing was a big issue for me.

I am reading chapter 13 right now. I also want to tackle these problems i encountered in Orgo I. Any advice since you tutored.

If Orgo I is conceptual than Orgo II is the part where you just have to have things down cold. The good news is that some nicky picky things go away usually like assigning configurations, while you still need to know when there's racemic products and steric rules you were tested on it explicitly in Orgo I and your understanding is tested more implicitly (as terms of depth) in Orgo II.

You have to have product predictions down cold, so to review:

• I would take the time now to make a synthesis 'road map' from alkanes -> alkyl halides -> alkene -----> show a pathway for everything else. Also know how to go backwards, something like this but comprehensive. I would strongly advice making your own roadmap instead of just printing one out. If you can make a roadmap in your sleep, with reagents and conditions included you'll be fine with most reactions.
• Don't waste your time reinventing the wheel on a passive exercise such as making flashcards, instead just KNOW the flashcards, WHENEVER you have free time (toilet, boring conversation, while walking to class, did I mention toilet) use them to predict the products. When you get better at predicting go ahead and try to do the mechanism for some good stereotypical ones, so the cards: https://legacyweb.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/flashcards/
• Be sure to review your acid base chemistry from early in Orgo I, a lot of Orgo II is about knowing when things can't and can react, or which is more reactive.
• Review oxidations and reductions especially to see the limits between aldehydes, ketones, and carbo-acids.

Know your reagents, roadmap, acid/base chemistry and Orgo II isn't that bad. Do suggested HW sets, and judge your performance by not only being correct but also by how fast you can complete the problems. If you're taking forever you're definitely going to suffer during the exam. My course was based only on a midterm and a final, but I did the suggested HW sets 2-3 times if time permitted, this helped a lot to get things down cold. Shift your focus back and forth between understanding (intuition) and performance (speed), the more your practice the skill sets timed the easier the real event will be.

FYI, you'll use a lot of what you learn during this period of how to study during your MCAT.

 

[487806]

I will be taking organic chemistry II next semester. Anyone has any good advice for me? I want to get ahead. The following topics will be covered.

Chapter 13
WS1 – Conjugated Molecules
Chapters 13-14
WS2 – The Diels-Alder Reaction
Chapters 14-15
WS3 – Aromaticity
Chapter 15
Special Topic G
WS4 – Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Midterm exam 1 on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 8:45-10:15 pm.
Chapter 16
WS5 – Organometallics
Chapters 16-17
WS6 – Aldehydes and Ketones I
Chapters 17-18
WS7 – Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Chapters 18-19
WS8 – Aldehydes and Ketones II (Enols and Enolates)
Midterm exam 2 on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 8:45-10:15 pm.
Chapter 19
WS9 – Conjugate Addition
Chapter 20
WS10 – Amines
Chapter 21
WS11 – Phenols and Aryl Halides
Chapter 22
WS12 – Carbohydrates

That schedule reminds me of what I did last year, though I forgot the details which is why the schedule looks a bit off to me. Nonetheless, you'll need to give a lot of attention to this subject, because you'll cover a great deal of reactions and mechanisms. Your prof can integrate these concepts by giving you complicated synthesis problems. Make sure you know the reactions cold and do a lot of practice problems. Mastering this material now will help you a lot for the MCAT.

 

[RSK25]

If Orgo I is conceptual than Orgo II is the part where you just have to have things down cold.

Thank you. So, my plan is that i am rewatching all the lecture videos and redoing problems. I am also redoing recitation problems. Do you think it's a good idea. I just have problem with getting things down cold. Speed is definitely a problem of mine.

Since, I am learning a lot of materials for orgo II for first time, any website that you know that organizes the information well? Same question to you too Agent B

Thank you so much for your suggestions.

 

[swolebrah]

If Orgo I is conceptual than Orgo II is the part where you just have to have things down cold. The good news is that some nicky picky things go away usually like assigning configurations, while you still need to know when there's racemic products and steric rules you were tested on it explicitly in Orgo I and your understanding is tested more implicitly (as terms of depth) in Orgo II.

You have to have product predictions down cold, so to review:

• I would take the time now to make a synthesis 'road map' from alkanes -> alkyl halides -> alkene -----> show a pathway for everything else. Also know how to go backwards, something like this but comprehensive. I would strongly advice making your own roadmap instead of just printing one out. If you can make a roadmap in your sleep, with reagents and conditions included you'll be fine with most reactions.
• Don't waste your time reinventing the wheel on a passive exercise such as making flashcards, instead just KNOW the flashcards, WHENEVER you have free time (toilet, boring conversation, while walking to class, did I mention toilet) use them to predict the products. When you get better at predicting go ahead and try to do the mechanism for some good stereotypical ones, so the cards: https://legacyweb.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/flashcards/
• Be sure to review your acid base chemistry from early in Orgo I, a lot of Orgo II is about knowing when things can't and can react, or which is more reactive.
• Review oxidations and reductions especially to see the limits between aldehydes, ketones, and carbo-acids.

Know your reagents, roadmap, acid/base chemistry and Orgo II isn't that bad. Do suggested HW sets, and judge your performance by not only being correct but also by how fast you can complete the problems. If you're taking forever you're definitely going to suffer during the exam. My course was based only on a midterm and a final, but I did the suggested HW sets 2-3 times if time permitted, this helped a lot to get things down cold. Shift your focus back and forth between understanding (intuition) and performance (speed), the more your practice the skill sets timed the easier the real event will be.

FYI, you'll use a lot of what you learn during this period of how to study during your MCAT.

burst out laughing when you said pull out flashcards during a boring conversation ...hahahahhaa.

Solid advice though

 

[lobo.solo]

Understand what is driving the rxn first. This will allow you to easily memorize the specifics. I think is unnecessary to pre-study although I understand it. Read the o-chem as a second language is you want to familiarize yourself with the concepts.

 

[ruedjgtc]

Thank you. So, my plan is that i am rewatching all the lecture videos and redoing problems. I am also redoing recitation problems. Do you think it's a good idea. I just have problem with getting things down cold. Speed is definitely a problem of mine.

Since, I am learning a lot of materials for orgo II for first time, any website that you know that organizes the information well?
Thank you so much for your suggestions.

If you want speed that means working problems until you're having night terrors about it. Avoid passive studying like watching too many videos or just passively reading, but do use them to compliment your active studying (hw sets repeated numerous times). Spend an excess amount of time re-working problem sets that took you forever, and spend less time on the stuff you find easy + you can speed through -- but don't get cocky, be sure to be balanced.

Devote time to mechanism/concepts for example 6-7 pm Claisen Condensation mechanism 7:30 pm - 9 pm Claisen condensation problems. If you ever can't find enough problems to work on then you're not googling hard enough. A rule of thumb: if you're destroying the problems at the end of the chapter with speed then you're probably getting everything else. If you're not getting stuff at the end you must of missed something towards the beginning or a foundational concept.

As far as organization, no organization will make sense to you unless you sit down and organize it yourself because it's just too much to glance at and understand i.e. do that roadmap thing I was talking about and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

 

[NervousNerd]

Michael addition. Learn it now, it's "fun"

 

[Ossyaris]

I'd say study spectroscopy for those upcoming topics during break, and worry about the reactions and mechanisms during the semester.