Summary of 86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com

Authors of: 86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com

Michael Pa 

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Book Introduction / Overview

86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com is a practical guide designed to help students master organic chemistry with clarity and confidence. Packed with smart study tips, reaction mechanism shortcuts, and memory techniques, this book simplifies even the most complex concepts. Ideal for undergraduates and exam-focused learners, it transforms challenging reactions into easy-to-understand patterns—making it an essential companion for organic chemistry exam preparation and concept-building success.

Short Summary

86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com is an essential learning guide for students who want to master organic chemistry through smart strategies and simplified explanations. This book transforms the way learners approach complex topics such as reaction mechanisms, synthesis pathways, and functional group transformations. Instead of memorizing endless reactions, readers gain a deeper understanding of how organic reactions work — making it easier to apply concepts in exams and real-world problem-solving.

The author presents 86 practical tips and study tricks that focus on pattern recognition, electron flow logic, and mechanism-based reasoning. Each chapter is designed to build confidence, improve recall, and strengthen conceptual foundations. Whether you’re preparing for college exams, competitive tests, or just trying to make sense of organic reactions, this guide helps you study smarter, not harder.

Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students, 86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry serves as both a study companion and a quick exam preparation tool. Its concise language, visual examples, and clear breakdowns make it one of the most accessible resources for mastering organic chemistry efficiently. A must-read for students aiming to boost their performance and truly understand the art of organic reaction mechanisms.

Key Points – 86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com

1. Simplifies Complex Organic Chemistry Concepts
   The book breaks down challenging organic chemistry topics into simple, easy-to-follow explanations. It focuses on helping students understand why reactions occur rather than just memorizing what happens, encouraging true concept-based learning.
2. Focus on Reaction Mechanisms
   With detailed yet concise discussions on reaction mechanisms, the book teaches students to visualize electron movement and predict reaction outcomes. This mechanism-centered approach helps learners master the logic behind organic transformations.
3. Practical Study Tricks and Learning Tips
   Each of the 86 tricks offers actionable study tips to make learning more efficient. These include mnemonic devices, visual mapping, and problem-solving strategies that boost retention and recall during exam preparation.
4. Exam-Oriented Structure
   Designed as a study guide, the book directly addresses common exam challenges in organic chemistry. It focuses on topics that frequently appear in college and competitive exams, helping students prepare strategically and save study time.
5. Step-by-Step Problem-Solving Approach
   The content encourages analytical thinking through step-by-step explanations, guiding students from basic reaction rules to complex mechanisms in an organized, logical manner.
6. User-Friendly Layout and Quick Reference Format
   Its clear structure, concise chapters, and summarized key ideas make it perfect for quick reviews before exams or lab sessions.
7. Ideal for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
   Whether you’re new to organic chemistry or revising for advanced courses, this learning guide serves as a reliable companion to strengthen understanding and improve performance.
8. Encourages Smart, Not Hard, Study Habits
   By emphasizing reasoning, pattern recognition, and efficient learning, the book helps students study smarter — turning intimidating reactions into manageable learning steps for long-term success in organic chemistry.

Why It’s a Good Resource Book for Students

“86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com” is an excellent study guide that helps students master organic chemistry through clear explanations, clever study tricks, and concept-based learning techniques. Designed for undergraduate, graduate, and advanced-level students, it simplifies reaction mechanisms and boosts exam preparation by turning complex topics into easy-to-understand, practical lessons for stronger conceptual understanding.

For a more in-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms and organic chemistry concepts, explore our comprehensive guide on Organic Chemistry at UOCS.org

Table of Contents in 86 Tricks to Ace Organic Chemistry by AceOrganicChem.com

Chapter 1: Setting Yourself Up for Success

#1- Watch out for the “Flunking Professor”.

#2- Study in packs—there is safety in numbers.

#3-Take the course at a more opportune time.

#4- Get away from the pre-meds.

#5- Don’t over-emphasize the lab section.

Chapter 2: Introductory Concepts

#6- Memorize your nomenclature and essential vocabulary.

#7- Wouldn’t formaldehyde by a different name smell just as sweet? The

difference between common names and IUPAC nomenclature.

#8- Know the “normal” state for common organic atoms.

#9- Fischer projections are a black tie affair.

#10- Is it really that “EZ”? Determining alkene geometry.

#11- Master Resonance.

#12- You Spin Me Right Round Baby, Right Round, Like a Record Baby

#13- Size Matters: Resonance between equivalent atoms means equal bond

lengths.

#14- Good for nothing alkanes. Lousy molecules.

#15- In organic chemistry, likes dissolve likes.

#16- Beware of the bad acid trip: Meet your strong acids.

#17- Meet your strong nucleophiles.

#18- They have worn out their welcome: Know your leaving groups.

#19- If you don’t start with chirality, you can’t end with it.

#20- Markovnikov was a liar. A dirty, smelly liar.

#21- A different type of chemistry test. Functional group tests

#22- Is it E1, E2, SN1, SN2?

#23- Why you should not stay on the straight and narrow (if you are counting

carbon chains).

#24- Arrows will point the way.

#25- There are only 3 different mechanisms to know. That’s it, just 3 (kinda).

#26- “They have the internet on computers now??” Page | 5

Chapter 3: Organic Chemistry Strategy

#27- Go to the hardware store and get a chemistry toolbox.

#28- It takes alkynes to make the world go ‘round (and to react with epoxides)

#29- Four organometallics to rule them all

#30- Diels-Alder Reaction-Part 1: An introduction

#31- Let’s go retro: Retrosynthetic analysis

#32- Overall EAS strategy

#33- EAS strategy: Turn a meta into ortho/para and vice-versa.

#34- EAS strategy: Conversion of alkyl groups to carboxylic acids.

#35- EAS strategy: In football, you need good blockers. SO3 and X are our blocking

groups

#36- EAS strategy: Long chain alkyl groups from Wolff-Kishner or reduction

#37- EAS strategy: Substituted toluenes came from toluene. Duh

Chapter 4: Helpful Reactions, Hints, Clues

#38: Want to impress your instructor? Start dropping names.

#39- Enantiomers are siblings, diastereomers are cousins which makes rotomers

your dingy aunt.

#40- Benzylic and allylic leaving groups are better than they look.

#41- Before you die, you see the [aromatic] ring.

#42- “Eject! Eject! Eject!” Carbonyls with an ejectable group are added to twice.

#43- Hint: “hν” means a radical is brewing.

#44- T-butyl groups on cyclohexane means no ring flips….kinda.

#45- Like Jerry Lewis asking for money, Lewis acids are always asking for electron

density.

#46- H2SO4 and HNO3: The good-cop/bad-cop of nitrations.

#47- The Incredible Bulk: Bulky bases.

#48- Hoffman vs. Zaitsev: The elimination.

#49- Dude, where’s my carbocation?

#50- Free Radical Halogenation: The Molecular Handle.

#51- My Three Reductions: Reduction Methods For Alkynes

#52- Is a Halogen Squatting on Your Molecule? Removing the unwanted halogen.

#53- You don’t want a “D” on your transcript, but you might want one on your

molecule.

#54- Diels-Alder Part 2: Regiochemistry and stereochemistry

#55- Diels-Alder Part 3: What makes a good Diels-Alder reaction

#56- It’s an urban legend that SN1 reactions give completely racemic products.

#57- “What do you ‘Amine’ you’re getting rid of me?”–How to eliminate an amine. Page | 6

#58- “Why didn’t you say were sendin’ the wolf?”—The Wolff-Kishner reduction

#59- It takes a Baeyer-Villiger to raise a child

#60- Symmetric diols came From the Pinacol reaction

#61- Convert a nitro group into the aldehyde or ketone.

#62- The McMurry reaction: A “reverse” ozonolysis.

#63- Role reversal: Nitrile hydration and the Letts Nitrile Synthesis

#64- Role reversal: Dihydroxylation and the Corey-Winter Olefination

#65- Role reversal: Halogens and carboxylic Acids

#66- Musical double bonds: Using catalytic I2.

#67- Just like the Secret Service, protecting groups are chemical bodyguards

#68- Don’t hydrogenate that aryl ring! You’ll kill us all!

#69- It’s as easy as 1,2 addition. Or is It 1,4 addition?

#70- Here’s to you’re annulation, Mrs. Robinson: Musings on the Robinson

Annulation.

#71- Kinetic vs. thermodynamic enolates: You choose the winner of this fight.

#72- “Where’s Aldol?”: Making an aldol reaction work for you.

#73- Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis: What you need to know in one page or less.

#74- β-keto esters came from a Claisen Condensation (NOT the Claisen

Rearrangement)

#75- Convert ketones to epoxides fast

#76- Two ways to open one epoxide

Chapter 5: Spectroscopy

#77- SODAR is not just a drink mixer anymore

#78- Splitting should be automatic, at least with NMR

#79- O, M, P from the aromatic region of an NMR

#80- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About a 13C NMR, But Were Afraid to

Ask

#81- There are Only Four Important IR Peaks.

#82- Check Out the Cleavage On That Molecule

#83- The Nitrogen Hint (Not a Rule)

Chapter 6: Study Tips and Suggestions

#84- Are You a Learner Like Socrates or a Memorizer Like a Super Computer?

#85- What a Tangled Web We Weave.

#86- Be a Chatty Patty and Talk Out Your Reactions.Page | 7

What is AceOrganicChem.com and how can it help me??

AceOrganicChem.com is a website designed to help you navigate the treacherous waters

that comprise undergraduate organic chemistry. On the site, we have:

Organic chemistry course review videos

A test bank of old exams from schools around the country, classified by difficulty

Electronic flash cards

Mechanism movies and other aides

Help for your MCAT

Organic Chemistry “Best of the Web” listing for other helpful websites

Scholarship information

Recommended organic chemistry help books

Organic chemistry lab help, with free videos.

Many services are free of charge and are designed by former instructors to help you get

the best grade possible. Visit the site and help yourself earn the grade you deserve

File Size: 1.16 MB. Pages: 164 Please read Disclaimer.

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