…such that a set of 4, 6, or “n” pi molecular orbitals is formed. [See: Conjugation and Resonance]. Since each pi-bond is comprised of two adjacent p orbitals, a molecule…
Read more
…This followup paper to Wiseman’s communication (Ref #4) provides more details on the synthesis and reactivity of the ‘Anti-Bredt’ olefin, bicyclo[3.3.1]non-1-ene. Bredt Compounds and the Bredt Rule Dr. Gert Köbrich…
Read more
…molecules (you draw them in, and use the ‘name molecule feature’ and it tells you the IUPAC nomenclature. —- I use Yahoo Answers and chemicalforums.com (the organic section) when I…
Read more
…of ethers Opening of epoxides Reactions of thiols In my experience, there’s nothing that helps doing this like making a “map” of reactions. So let’s put each of these reactions…
Read more
…a bespectacled, soft-spoken organic chemistry instructor wrote this reaction on the board. “This is called the Cope rearrangement”, said the instructor. “It’s a rearrangement of 1,5- dienes.” I’m slouching in…
Read more
I love getting letters from people about their experiences with organic chemistry. I love it even more when they share some of the techniques and strategies they used to do…
Read more
…Problems Intramolecular reactions [i.e. reactions where two functional groups in a molecule react with each other] cause a surprising amount of consternation on the part of students. These reactions come…
Read more
…modern computational techniques, we can calculate charge densities extremely well. From these calculations, it’s easy to see where charge is distributed throughout the molecule. For example, ClO- below; oxygen is…
Read more
…How To Use Electronegativity to Determine Partial Charges) However I didn’t mention a second key factor that can complicate the analysis of electron densities: the presence of double bonds (π…
Read more
…essentially the conjugate bases of alkanes, they’re also extremely strong bases. This means that sometimes acid-base reactions can compete with their nucleophilic addition reactions. One common situation where this crops…
Read more