Isomers From Free Radical Reactions
Last time we covered a comparatively simple reaction: free-radical chlorination of methane to (CH4) to give chloromethane (CH3Cl) and saw that the reaction proceeds through
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Selective vs. Specific
Many of the transformations you will encounter have the potential to create multiple products – isomers – from a single starting material. The reactions shown
Read moreCondensed Formulas: Deciphering What the Brackets Mean
Recall that there are at least 4 major ways of representing molecules that you’re introduced to in the first week of ochem. The highest level
Read moreDon’t Be Futyl, Learn The Butyls
Nomenclature: what a headache. We’ve got all these accumulated years of jargon regarding chemical structures, and unless you learn the lingo, it can be confusing
Read moreOn Cats, Part 1: Conformations and Configurations
[NOTE: this has been amended to correct some confusion on my part on the difference between configurational and constitutional isocats. Thanks to Prof. Gary Weisman
Read moreOn Cats, Part 2: Cat Line Diagrams
When this blog was about organic chemistry, I’d never stoop so low as to put cute pictures of cats on my website to drive traffic.
Read moreEphedrine and Pseudoephedrine
These molecules make the news quite a bit. Some questions to think about: What’s the (R),(S) designation for the stereocenters of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, as
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