What are /r/OrganicChemistry's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Probably not the best option out there, but nobody else has commented, it works and it's free: MarvinSketch. If you select the structure you've drawn and hit F7 you can rotate things in 3D. The conformation calculator gives you a 3D model that you can manipulate. Not quite as easy as building the models by hand, but it's less tedious sometimes and I find it pretty useful. You can play with how the structure is displayed (wireframe, ball and stick, spacefill) and each atom/bond's colors to make different areas stand out more. Big downside is that if you don't generate a 3D conformation, all the bond lengths are the same.

i came here to literally say this book lol... here's the amazon link. even before you start the class i suggest reading it on your own it is VERY digestible. Organic Chemistry as a Second... https://www.amazon.com/dp/111949348X?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share + the organic chem tutor on youtube and khan academy could literally replace any online professor. good luck!

The maximum curcumin yield was obtained when temperature, particle size, mixing time and solvent to meal ratio were 60°C, 0.42 mm, 30 min and 50, respectively.

Edit: Note that this is with absolute alcohol

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236189227_Effect_of_extraction_parameters_on_curcumin_yield_from_turmeric

Had the same problem, but I was able to find it eventually.

https://libgen.pw/item/detail/id/5a1f04d13a044650f50626eb

Not sure if this is 100% for Second Edition, but the solutions seem to match.

the disconnection approach is the quintessential text for me. it will definitely help with choosing which functional groups to attach first and stuff like that. i used to have the pdf but can’t find it, i’m sure a google or two and you can get it. really great book i might have to redownload thanks for the reminder

would highly recommend this book (roughly the first 100 pages) which walks you through well, the logic of chemical synthesis.

1. you should break your molecule down in a way that it becomes simpler with each retrosynthetic disconnection. the point is to reduce complexity, not make something even more complex. you should also pay attention to how much these starting materials cost (the cheaper the better). as for byproducts, you want to find efficient reactions in the literature that match most closely with yours in order to reduce side products.
2. no. you just need to make it, which will enable you (or someone else) to learn more about it
3. when searching the literature, find the closest possible example to your own and first replicate their procedure on your system. if that doesn't work, then you need to find other similarly related systems and start troubleshooting.

Organic chemistry as a second language for both Orgo 1 and 2, you can buy it or probably find a copy somewhere online. A ton of practice problems and they explain the concepts really clearly. heres a link for the Orgo 1 book that's pretty inexpensive.

Got hooked on these in grad school. No worries about wrong tares or w/e cause you can take them on and off. Also use pencil to not lose labels to solvents. Anything else temporarily used gets the sharpie.

I'm still old-school enough that I consult a book, rather than the internet for things like "how should I purify this relatively common compound?". This book, to be specific: https://www.amazon.com/Purification-Laboratory-Chemicals-D-PERRIN/dp/0750637617I'd look for you, but I'm 300+ miles from my copy right now.

Or, if there's an OrgSyn Prep for it, that may have something, but probably not in this case.

https://www.amazon.com/Preparing-Your-Examination-Organic-Chemistry/dp/0970804210

This is the study guide book we recommend to our students.

Yes, I highly recommend the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language book. This will help build your foundation well. Dr. Klein explains the material in a digestible way and includes work problems with solutions embedded in the chapters. I read both of his books for both semesters cover to cover several times. They are great.

I would get the cheapest modeling kit on amazon that is just balls and sticks - This one is just 15 and looks perfect.

I also have a linktree (linktr.ee/organicmelissa) where I have my tiktok and youtube linked where I have some tutorials that I give my students before class. On the linktree there is a page with all the videos organized by topic and chapter. Many students from my class and other classes have said this really helps them!

If you want to get even more ahead, on my linktree there is also a link to my recorded course lectures.

Hope that helps!

You got several hundred hours spare? You have a very large and heavy door and need a suitably sized doorstop?

This'll have you covered: https://www.amazon.com/Stereochemistry-Organic-Compounds-Ernest-Eliel/dp/0471016705

I jest but it's seriously the bible for this stuff.

ACS online practice exam with immediate answer feedback and corrections

Printed ACS study guide:

The ACS does have an official exam prep book, which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/Preparing-Your-Examination-Organic-Chemistry/dp/0970804210

As long as you do some general review work it will be fine. The test tends to ask lot of questions about different topics, but it doesn't usually go very deep on any of them. I don't know how difficult your professor is but I had an Organic 1 ACS test last semester and it was the easiest of the whole class.

Chemistry by design: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chemistry-by-design-target-synthesis-database/id451791347

You can practice by hiding the reagents and intermediates

Advanced Problems in Organic Chemistry: Only available for android/google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ionicframework.eq4303509&hl=en&gl=US

Try using this link: https://z-lib.org/

I used this website to get the PDF version of many textbooks in college, such as my organic chemistry, biochemistry and physical chemistry textbooks.

Might not have the most recent edition, but normally very little in terms of the actual content changes between editions regardless. Just make sure to pay attention to the page numbers since those will be different if you have an older edition.

Let me know if you need any further help.

I used the HGS Molecular Model Kit when I was in college, and loved it so much I purchased a second one so I could make bigger structures in grad school :). In my mind, the price and size/convenience make this one the one to get over some of the more common ones you see suggested here.

COST: The price point is in the middle compared to the Darling and MolyMod model sets. The set that I used throughout college was the same you can get at Barnes & Noble for about $50 - $60. With this set you get plenty of atoms/bonds/etc to play with. It's cheaper than the MolyMod sets, but more expensive than the Darling models.

SIZE/CONVENIENCE: Also, the HGS structures are smaller than some of the other ones. You see a lot of the MolyMod models in classes. They are nice and robust, but are a lot larger. For model kits, the key thing to note is the scale, which they all reference as compared to angstroms: 2.5 cm = 1 Angstrom, vs HGS, which is a nice, convenient 1 cm = 1 Angstrom. The Darling model kits, although quite inexpensive, are FRIGGIN' HUGE!! at 5.08 cm = 1 angstrom!!!

The only downside of the HGS case is that there wasn't a good closure... in fact there was no closure at all, so I always had a rubber band wrapped around it. No problem, I could pack it in my backpack and carry it to class like it wuz nuthin'.

Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis https://www.amazon.com/dp/0124297854/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_a_FQ8H0YN2Q3T918EX3NMA

One of my favorite books for synthesis! Provides 1page of details & mechanism and one page of uses in total syntheses/literature examples (along with citation) for a bunch of named reactions. A great resource to have and very fun book to flip through & go down rabbit holes of “oh wow i wonder how they made that…checks citation”

Hello! Undergraduate Chemistry major here. One of my profs recommended this book to us, and maybe it’ll be of some help to you! The Art of Writing Reasonable Organic Reaction Mechanisms https://www.amazon.ca/dp/3030287351/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_NMQSR9BF6A07MAVXZ17Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Found this thread when I was searching for it myself, here's a link to the 8th edition textbook and solutions manual

To have a,good introduction on bachelor level, also useful in master, I advise you:

[Organic Chemistry Book by Jonathan Clayden, Nick Greeves, and Stuart Warren

](https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Jonathan-Clayden/dp/0199270295)

Very well done book for beginners in organic chemistry, to understand how a reaction is actually working. Because of course before having practical good skills, you have to know well the theory behind

I really enjoyed using this app: Organic Chemistry Flashcards on the playstore. It helped me quickly identify reactions based on reagents/reactants and products.

I love Klein’s books! My class used organic chemistry 3rd Edition by him. It had a nice review of what you need to know from general chemistry in the first chapter. Check out https://libgen.is for free textbooks. I don’t know if they have the one I specified but I’m sure you could find some great resources for organic chemistry. Given that you took AP chem in Highschool I assume you already know most of what you need to before taking organic chem. I was a HL IB Chem student and we learnt all the necessary material in Highschool.

Chemdraw is the gold standard, see if your university has free student licenses for it.

​

There's also LaTeX, which you code your structures in, and it can be pretty powerful. Try overleaf+ chemfig, it's free.

Thank you!!!

​

Another quick question if you don't mind answering regarding this screenshot: https://snipboard.io/mgXyQs.jpg

​

Why can't I move the Me group 120 deg to the right instead of having to move it to the 120 deg left to achieve the left staggered compound? I get the compound to the right is the Anti and least stable but the drawing for the left compound has left me confused. 

https://www.screencast.com/t/J1oLQQd7489 : This is a really good video laid out by Dr. Gould watch at the 9:55 mark.

Tips to help you get started:

1. Parenthesis could mean two things: it could mean a repeating unit along the main chain if it contains a subscript like a methyl or your ethyl or it could mean a unit that is branched into the
   main carbon of interest ( if it doesn't have a parenthesis and subscript).

Hey! I found this from a quick google search of "permanganate toluene oxidation mechanism"

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-DFT-study-of-permanganate-oxidation-of-toluene-Adamczyk-Wijker/c334dbf8edc3a8208430315a254cd6244be348c7

This paper shows a few possible ones. However, I doubt it's well known, since this is still a research topic in the above paper (2014).

Metal-catalyzed oxidations can be really complicated though, especially of C-H sigma bonds. Check out a few of these oxidation reaction mechanisms and you'll get an idea that they're not exactly intuitive.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Map%3A_Organic_Chemistry_%28Bruice%29/20%3A_More_About_Oxidation-Reduction_Reactions/20.01%3A_Oxidation-Reduction_Reactions_of_Organic_Compounds%3A_An_Overview

The Marvin suite is free, has tons of tutorials, and even has free 3D programs as well that I use regularly for docking even though I have the chemdraw suite through my institution.

I have some basic questions. 1. At what level do you plan to include the reactions? Sophomore organic? Advanced undergraduate? Graduate? 2. Why do you want more reactions that are named after people? Are you connecting the chemistry with the historical period? 3. Mechanistically, many named reactions are similar to "unnamed" reactions. For example, the Claisen condensation is named after a person, but the very similar Aldol condensation is not. 4. A good resource for named reactions is Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Applications-Reactions-Organic-Synthesis/dp/0124297854

I seem to remember this one being useful at the Bachelor to Masters transition point, as an organic chemist myself going on to a PhD in total syntheis. Stuart Warren is one of the authors on the usual Clayden book.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Synthesis-Strategy-Paul-Wyatt/dp/0471929638/ref=sr\_1\_13?dchild=1&qid=1629477845&refinements=p\_lbr\_books\_authors\_browse-bin%3AStuart+G.+Warren&s=books&sr=1-13

guidebook to mechanism in organic chemistry by Sykes. You’ll think I’m joking when you see how dated the cover is, but it’s absolutely spectacular.

Read good books. I'm from the UK where all university undergraduates are familiar with Clayden's organic chemistry https://www.amazon.co.uk/Organic-Chemistry-Jonathan-Clayden/dp/0198503466

But get a good text book, read it back to front, and do practice questions

Are you looking for a model kit? This is my favorite model kit: https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Inorganic-Organometallic-accompany-Chemistry/dp/0964883716

​

There are tons of model kits out there, but this is by far my favorite. It's a little more expensive than most.

I should also say that these model kits are just a small piece of the puzzle. They are helpful when you're trying to analyze compounds especially in the first semester of organic chemistry when you're learning about stereochemistry.

Let me know if you have anymore questions! I'd be happy to help.

"Maximum Success Minimum Effort" by Fredlos is an inexpensive resource

​

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Maximum-Success-Minimum/dp/1097251772

Niceee! It’s really good, an upperclassman who aced Orgo 1 and 2 recommended it to me. I don’t know if this would help, but I use this notebook. My handwriting is horrendous and it keeps neat, and the organization keeps me motivated.

This is a good answer; if it's not too much of a shameless plug I would follow up by saying that I've been working on an app called Splotch for storing, sharing, and annotating TLC data so that lab notebooks don't get full of chemicals and eventually the photographic data can be published. Here is the link to the app (it's free!): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.splotch

For Android now, coming to iOS soon!

The Prentice Hall Molecular Model Kit for Organic Chemistry is a good one that I own. This one on amazon looks a little cheaper. https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Model-Pieces-Instructional/dp/B01NCU854K/ref=sr_1_9?crid=133XP18O4QYY3&dchild=1&keywords=prentice+hall+molecular+model+set+for+organic+chemistry&qid=1602364271&sprefix=prentice+hall+%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-

If you're not willing to cough up a little dough for a real model kit then you could go buy colored mini marshmallows and toothpicks and use those.

Organic chemists in general love name dropping named reactions (pun intended). I second the Kurti book mentioned above. It’s basically just a list of named reactions along with brief summary and relevant sources:

https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Applications-Reactions-Organic-Synthesis/dp/0124297854/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=organic+chemistry+named+reactions&qid=1601251203&sr=8-3

Shape won't change your compound no. It's standard to have everything at 120 degree angles tho - imagine all the lines you're drawing are lines on a regular hexagon. No matter how good or bad organic chemistry gets, you'll always come out of it being able to draw a mean hexagon.

Hit up Google for a free pdf of hexagon graph paper - you can even buy refill pads of the stuff specifically for organic chemistry eg. https://www.amazon.co.uk/BENZNOTE-Organic-Chemistry-Hexagonal-Punched/dp/B0758KZG1N/ref=asc_df_B0758KZG1N/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=205271670223&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13301940000270296782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&a...

Edit - sorry for the long link, on mobile so can't format it haha.

this exact photo is on amazon, along with the product for anyone interested here

looks like that design took someone else a while to make!

There’s a nice correlation table in Silverstein that will help you predict pretty much any chemical shift. Check your Chem Library.

https://www.amazon.com/Spectrometric-Identification-Organic-Compounds-Silverstein/dp/0471634042

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Paula-Yurkanis-Bruice/dp/0321803221/

This was the book I used - just an earlier edition.

Yes, that's a very good book to read.

I think something like Classics in Total Synthesis would also be a good introduction to a bunch of reactions and the art/science/whatever of advanced synthesis to a budding Organic Chemist. I'd say it a bit less dry than your standard textbook too, but I may be biased there. You can almost definitely rent it at a university library. If you don't want to do that, there are tons of reviews that have similar themes.

But if you have tons of time during a summer, the best thing to do would be to get involved in research. You might even just sit in on some group's group meetings if you live near a research university. And then ask to be more involved.

I agree about Carey's books: lots of good information, and there are journal references to the problems. I'd also suggest Silverstein's Spectroscopy text http://www.amazon.com/Spectrometric-Identification-Organic-Compounds-Silverstein/dp/0471393622 You can find an older edition for less money, and learn much more about spectroscopy than what's in most organic texts.

My parents bought me the MolyMod Organic Teacher set. It let's me build almost any molecule I come across. Also the bonds are a very snug fit. It is however too expensive for your budget. So I would go for the Student set.

Zubrick's Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual was an awesome resource for me during my first semester of orgo. Much of the stuff in the school's own lab manuals was taken from this resource.