Wait...no Alkenes On The Mcat?!?!?

[philios]

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Does this mean we dont have to (re-)learn the mechanisms/information behind E1, E2, SN1, and SN2???? wahooooo...i think. we dont have to know this stuff right?

 

[Schaden Freud]

I think you mean no alkynes.

Does this mean we dont have to (re-)learn the mechanisms/information behind E1, E2, SN1, and SN2???? wahooooo...i think. we dont have to know this stuff right?

 

[Kaydubz]

Does this mean we dont have to (re-)learn the mechanisms/information behind E1, E2, SN1, and SN2???? wahooooo...i think. we dont have to know this stuff right?

If I had to pick two topics to know everything about for mcat organic, it'd be carbonyls and the combination of E1, E2, SN1, and SN2.

 

[philios]

taken from EK-MCAT Organic Chemistry (p34) "We are, of course, aware that the topic of alkenes has been removed from the list of topics tested by the MCAT. We suggest this section will be helpful anyway."

soooo... whos right? also if alkenes arent on the mcat do we still have to knwo the other alkene rxns like hydroboration/oxymercuration/oxidation of an alkene?

-very confused

 

[Hindiana_Jones]

I had the same question, so I pmed one of the advisors on this forum, and they said that you should know E1 E2, Zaitzev's rule, and orbital hybridization. They said that the AAMC probably means they are not going to ask you how to synthesize alkenes or alkynes. I resisted studying it at first, but when you think about it, you have to study alcohols, and one of the rxns of an alcohol is an E1 alcohol to an alkene...

 

[booji]

From my understanding, it is true that alkenes are no longer tested on the MCAT, although E1, E2, SN1, and SN2 are tested. I believe the scope now leaves out things like Markovnikov addition/Anti-Markovnikov Addition, Saytzeff products, etc. So you probably dont need to know certain alkene reactions.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Be REALLY careful here! There is no alkene reactivity tested (along with alkyne and benzene reactivity), but they still test diene chemistry. I can't begin to figure their logic, but AAMC logic is an oxymoron anyway. They can ask about 1,2-addition versus 1,4-addition, which is based on the same principles as alkene reacivity, so it's a concept that shouldn;t be brushed off. Just don't spend any time memorizing alkene reactions.

 

[McLicky]

Be REALLY careful here! There is no alkene reactivity tested (along with alkyne and benzene reactivity), but they still test diene chemistry. I can't begin to figure their logic, but AAMC logic is an oxymoron anyway. They can ask about 1,2-addition versus 1,4-addition, which is based on the same principles as alkene reacivity, so it's a concept that shouldn;t be brushed off. Just don't spend any time memorizing alkene reactions.

where do you get this info from?

 

[scotties123]

when i first came across this sentence in EK i thought to myself, "hey thats good one less thing to worry about". Then i spoke to my brother, cousins, friends, and just about everyone I could that took the MCAT. They ALL told me learn this stuff. Besides, its only 3 more hours TOPS looking over the alkene stuff, and maybe 3 extraflashcards. Just do it and dont regret it later.