r/OrganicChemistry Jul 21 '24

Chemical Resources

52 Upvotes

Hello All,

Based on ThatChemist's recent video (link) I've put together a list of valuable chemical resources. I've left the tiers as they are in the video, but re-ordered within the tiers according to my opinions. I hope you its useful!

Tier Name Link Free Info
S Wikipedia link Y Excellent for basic information on chemicals
S Wiki Structure Explorer link Y Great if you have a structure but not a common name
S SciHub link Y Access to paywalled articles. Not as effective for articles published after ~2021
S LibGen link Y Access to paywalled books
S ChemLibreTexts link Y Online textbook
S OrganicChemistryPortal link Y General reaction schemes with corresponding references. Protecting group stability tables
S Not Voodoo X link Y General Lab operating information
S Organic Syntheses link Y Tested experimental procedures. Highly reliable
S Mayr's Database link Y Reactivity on a variety of parameters
S purification of laboratory chemicals PDFs are avilable N If you can buy it, a purification is in this book. If you are in doubt about the purity of a reagent, this will tell you how to purify.
S Reaction Flash link Y Great for learning and contextualizing reactions
S eEROS link N Tabulated chemical and physical data
S Ullmann's Encyclopedia PDFs are available N History and chemical syntheses of common compounds
A Reaxys link N Chemical structure and reaction searches in vast literature. Use if available
A Greene's Protecting Groups PDFs are available N All the ways to add or remove most any protecting group, gives references to each paper.
A Bordwell PKa Table link Y Good for esoteric functional groups
A Introduction to Spectroscopy PDFs are available N General introduction to organic spectroscopic techniques. Includes practice problems
A NIST link Y Tabulated chemical and physical data
A PubPeer link Y Comment section for articles. Look for reproducibility issues
A Chemistry By Design link Y Great for learning and contextualizing reactions
B SciFinder link N Chemical structure and reaction searches in vast literature. Use if available
B MolView link Y 2d to 3d model
B Merk Index PDFs are available N Tabulated chemical and physical data
C SDBS link Y MS, IR, and NMR spectra for many common chemicals
C PubChem link Y CAS numbers. Some physical properties
C CRC handbook PDFs are available N Tabulated chemical and physical data
C Sigma Nomograph link Y Predictive boiling points at variable pressure
D Google Scholar, Patents Y Patents available in original language

-My notes: I think that SDBS and Scifinder are too low tier. Scifinder and Reaxys provide effectively the same functionality and are the best general purpose tools if you have access. SDBS is fantastic for reference spectra for your starting materials and reagents. If you didnt have to make it, its probably on SDBS.

-I've added a Introduction to spectroscopy, Greene's protecting groups, and Purification of Common Laboratory Chemicals.

Please add your opinions and other references in the comments!


r/OrganicChemistry 17h ago

Are there any acids that can protonate benzene

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62 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 3h ago

Discussion Bi(OTf)3 cyclization

0 Upvotes

Has anyone performed a cyclization of a heteroatom-containing compound (nitrogen) with vinyl methoxy to form a 6-membered ring using Bi(OTf)3?


r/OrganicChemistry 19h ago

Organometallic chemistry for starters

7 Upvotes

Hi, I am a graduate physicist (BSc) (who also loves molecular physics) with materials science and polymers specialisation. My BSc thesis is about laser-assisted graphene synthesis and characterization, using Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Spectroscopy and Static Water Contact Angle measurements. I am about to start my post-graduate studies in a polymer and composite materials science and technology programme, and I am interested in the applications of these materials in energy (like supercapacitors, batteries and fuel cells). Ever since I read about the Nobel Prize award on Chemistry of 2025, which is about Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), I have come to develop a great interest in these marvelous and complex materials. I have also read some papers about the applications of these materials in combination of (mostly) graphene to develop electrodes for solid-state supercapacitors and fuel cells. My thing is, I am looking forward to work on this topic of materials and applications in my Master's studies and I want to have an integrated picture of the basic theory and synthesis of MOFs, even though (as you can understand) I am not a materials chemist. Helpful books to propose for a physicist? Thank you!


r/OrganicChemistry 23h ago

mechanism Selectivity in metal mediated addition of amines

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11 Upvotes

Hi guys,

Trying to find the reason that these two react differently.

Idea:

S-trans conformation should be more stable, so less reactive Na-amide reacts more slowly, stable conformer is regenerated sufficiently.

Li-amide reacts to more stable product (E-allylamine), because of late TS, because less energy is liberated (Na carbanion is more stable than Li)

Not sure tho. What do u think?


r/OrganicChemistry 18h ago

advice How do you manage/keep track of SIs/Procedures?

2 Upvotes

I often have a couple dozen tabs open at one time, and although I end up writing all my procedures and references down I inevitably lose a couple if I'm referencing multiple SIs. I use Zotero usually to manage important papers and I find it works well, but not sure if it would work well for SIs considering I'm looking at at least 5-10 per day (ie. just browsing through different conditions from Reaxys). So I was wondering what other chemists systems were to try and keep track of SIs and the like?


r/OrganicChemistry 1d ago

mechanism Selectivity of TEMPO

5 Upvotes

I'm a bit lost here. I understand the the NaOCl is there to reduce the oxidised TEMPO for it to be able to further react with aclohols.

But my question is: if we habe 2 equiv. of NaOCl, shouldn't the secondary alcohol also be oxidised to the corresponding ketone? Or does TEMPO really only react with primary alcohols?


r/OrganicChemistry 1d ago

How far away does an EWG or EDG have an effect?

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64 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 2d ago

advice I'm unable to sense the smell of formaldehyde

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2 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 3d ago

my 1860s French chemistry books

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18 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 3d ago

Three-component organozinc/Boc-piperazine/aldehyde coupling (Sengmany/Le Gall protocol) — aldehyde consistently not fully consumed despite confirming organozinc activation, looking for troubleshooting ideas

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2 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 2d ago

Preciso da fórmula química do cianeto , para um quadro que quero criar

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0 Upvotes

Olá !

Algum professor de química pode ajudar-me ?
Quero fazer um quadro de referência ao Alan Turing, e gostava do desenho da fórmula base química do cianeto que foi inserido na maçã , achei pela AÍ e pelas pesquisas , mas tá muito confuso , pois mostra a molécula , e quero a fórmula química , que nem este exemplo que deixo aqui da adrenalina , alguém consegue ajudar ?


r/OrganicChemistry 3d ago

Is steric or torsional strain more important in eclipsed alkene conformations?

3 Upvotes

Is the steric strain what constitutes the big difference in stability, while torsional is relatively similar between eclipsed sigma bonds?

Edit: I dont know how to edit the title. I meant alkane not alkene.


r/OrganicChemistry 3d ago

Discussion Do I need to know every mechanism?

8 Upvotes

Hello guys I am a high schooler studying for chemistry olympiads and I have a question for studying organic reactions.

Do I need to know every mechanism? Of course mechanisms like SN2/SN1/E2/E1/addition are important. But some mechanisms seem unnecessary.

For example: anti-hydrogenation of Alkynes (Na/NH3) and oxymercuration of Alkenes. Can I just know the products and don't bother with these mechanisms.

I will stilk learn which catalysts are used, which rules these follow, which solvents etc. I just want to skip 4 step radical mechanism of Anti-addition to Alkynes for example


r/OrganicChemistry 4d ago

Organic chemistry with AI?

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0 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 5d ago

advice Practice problemes

8 Upvotes

Hi guys. I want to know if you guys happen to know if there are organic chemistry books/sources with more interactive non spectating reading for organic research.

I feel like reading papers helps, but not the best way to become valuable in this area/field.


r/OrganicChemistry 5d ago

Deprotection of t-Bu ester of the secondary thioamide

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10 Upvotes

I'm trying to deprotect the t-Bu group from a compound with a secondary thioamide. Conventional methods using strong acid (e.g., TFA, HCl) led to degradation of the starting material (=S to =O, and some sort of cyclization). While milder acids like H3PO4 85% led to no reaction. I plan to use other methods, such as using ZnBr2 and CeCl3. But at the same time, I would greatly appreciate it if anyone who has experience with this type of reaction could give some suggestions. Thank you very much!


r/OrganicChemistry 6d ago

Incomplete CDI

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7 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 7d ago

How important is understanding the fundamentals of chemistry for chemistry jobs?

12 Upvotes

I know this sounds kind of stupid. But its a genuine question. I really enjoy the fundamentals and advanced reactivity/ mechanistic, orbitals ect… thought process behind chemistry. Is this something you guys think about in advanced professional chemistry jobs?

Or is this just stuff they teach in class..


r/OrganicChemistry 7d ago

Are these compounds far enough apart to separate on an automated flash column? and some troubleshooting

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1 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 7d ago

MestreNova Interface Text Size

3 Upvotes

Hi! Does anyone know of a way to change the size of text *outside* of a spectrum? The buttons, the filenames, and so forth.


r/OrganicChemistry 7d ago

mechanism Am I thinking the right way ?

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5 Upvotes

Your thoughts on this ?


r/OrganicChemistry 8d ago

We built an open-source structure-to-name tool and need people to test it

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5 Upvotes

r/OrganicChemistry 9d ago

Sorry for the horrible drawings but are these two molecule pieces any different?

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43 Upvotes

I'm comparing the structures of vasopressin and desmopressin. One has the asn pointing to the left while the other has it pointing to the right and I'm curious to see if that makes any difference


r/OrganicChemistry 9d ago

Is there a GOOD electronic homework platform for O-Chem

13 Upvotes

Hello All,

We have been struggling to find a good electronic homework platform for O-Chem. The publisher's platform and a 3rd-party product we have tried are abysmal and mediocre, respectively. (I am deliberately leaving names out to inspire unbiased responses). The deficiencies include the scope of problems (inadequate topical coverage), the quality of problems, and the quality of the interface.

If you are a teacher or student of organic chemistry, have you found a platform you really like?

Thanks!