1) use flashcards for functional groups - you will need to "see" the groups on the fly: amine, imine, ether, ester, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, phenyl, etc
2) use flashcards to memorize ALL reactants given to you (HBR, HCL, NaOH, LiOH, ...)
3) use flashcards to put 3^0 alcohol, 2^0 alcohol, 1^0 alcohol and what can "hit" those molecules and WHY (SN1, Sn2, E1, E2); this also goes for every other type of reaction but generally, you start with alcohols and what can pluck off that H way out on the end and via which mechanism using what reactant
4) use flashcards to breakout the differences between: SN1, Sn2, E1, E2
5) DRAW ... seriously. Get an 8" x 12" artists book and draw the reactions - no matter how easy they are ... draw until you
6) DRAW all mechanisms that you have to learn until you
7) When you get to synthesis, come back and thank me
I bought the modeling sticks and balls (the good set that cost like $35) and used it when trying to see WHY a reaction could not occur (big bulky reactant, for instance).
I got an A using the above. My compadres who just memorized old tests got a "C" on the final and a B in the class because they had failed to understand why what dances with what and whom hates who...
Orgo, to me, was a big puzzle: where do the electrons go? (draw) WHY do the electrons go that way (DRAW). I loved it - I also loved gen chem, and love physics now (last pre-req).
