Book Description

A paperback guide to the basic techniques of the organic chemistry lab. Zubrick includes practical lab advice presented with clarity and humor. The book describes the instruments and techniques used in organic chemistry lab. Diagrams show the reader how to make measurements, set up labs and perform meaningful experiments. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Serendipitous...
As well as being extremely detailed, intelligent and helpful, this book is hysterically funny, which makes it a joy to read and easy to understand. A nice change from the usual ...yawn... science-reference manuals. I would strongly encourage other students to take advantage of this terrific piece of work.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY
This book promise so much by the wide coverage of topics in Organic lab. but it delivers nothing. Aside from listing the topics in the Table of content. The seemingly knowledable Prof. Zubric presents an unorganize, incomprehensible 294 pages of something that read like a page from a low budget Comic Strip. Am shock that a well respected publishing house like John Wiley and Son would lend their reputation to a low quality like this. The author talked about every thing that are irrelevant. what is needed is a good intro. to the subject like -EXTRACTION and then the stepwise layout of professional quality discussion of headings like - Materials involved; procedure; observation; conclusion etc. he fail to approach the subject prof. The book would pass for a Book of Short Jokes. Do not waste your money. D BOOK DID NOT HELP ME IN MY CLASS ANYWAY...

Must Have for O-Chem Lab
Used it so much in lab, it almost became my right. VERY helpful! Easy to read with a nice twist of humor.

Right On!! The Best Lab Manual Ever!!!
This book was chock full of concise, yet extremely valuable, information, and the wit with which it was presented made prelabs bearable, if not exactly fun. Thank your lab professor if this is a required book, and definitely pick it up if it's on the reccomended list (or even if it's not!).

Humor in a Science Text Book: Miracles Do Happen
In this exceptional reference for first time students of organic chemistry lab, the author conveys what could be dry, boring information in a humorous, yet professional, manner. I actually found myself laughing out loud as I read a mock conversation between a lab instructor and a student about using boiling stones. Boiling stones! I never thought I'd find them humorous. Although brilliantly entertaining, Zubrick never fails to convey accurate, concise, intelligent thoughts on procedure, equipment, safety, and safety, and, oh yeah, did I mention safety? I think this actually deserves 6 or 7 stars; I know it's going to help me immensely in my lab work. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

good text, forbidding price
The book is very good for reference, yet it is too expensive for graduate students. I would also suggest taking $$$off, relative to March's and C&S's good text, this one is really forbidding.

The Bible for Organic Laboratory
I took an undergraduate course on advanced organic laboratory method and Vogel was meant to be an incredible reference and life-saver. The overwhelming size of the book might seem somewhat frightening yet the useful information is worth the size and money.

Pavia's "Introduction to Organic Laboratory Techniques" might seem to be a water-down version of Vogel. Vogel is extremely well-written and detailed in laboratory tecniques such as chromatography, distillation, HPLC, crystallization, extraction, etc. A chapter is also devoted to discussion of solvents and reagents, which helps tremendously for separation experiments.

Vogel also discusses aliphatic, heterocyclic, and aromatic compounds and introduces spectroscopic methods. Vogel is recommended for advanced lab course that requires frequent modification of lab procedures and reference for chemists.

Time for a new edition
This book is really good but it's time for a new edition ! Compared to another excellent book (Jerry March) it is also too expensive. I would give 5 stars to a new and cheaper edition.

MUST READ
Vogel's Handbook is a must for all practising organic and analytical chemists. Ask me - I have misplaced the one and only copy of the South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory. I thought about reordering a replacement copy, untill I saw the price! In our money the cost is equivalent to one month's rent of a bachelors flat. Considering my alternatives I opted for rather writing a winning review of the publication, thus immediately take $100 of the retail price. Clever ain't it? Please inform me when I can collect my $100. ... Read more

Book Description

Widely and consistently praised as the most clearly written book on the market. Why?In John McMurry's words: "I have been asked hundreds of times over the past ten years why I wrote this book. I wrote this book because I love writing. I get great pleasure and satisfaction from taking a complicated subject, turning it around until I see it clearly from a new angle, and then explaining it in simple words.I write to explain chemistry to students the way I wish it had been explained to me years ago."Through his lucid writing and ability to show the beauty and logic of organic chemistry, McMurry makes learning enjoyable for students.The highest compliment that can be given to a chemistry book applies to McMurry: It works!Mainstream in level, McMurry's coverage is concise yet doesn't omit any key topics.McMurry blends the traditional functional-group approach with a mechanistic approach.The primary approach, by functional group, begins with the simple and progresses to the more complex so that readers who are not yet versed in the subtleties of mechanisms are first exposed to the what of chemistry before beginning to grapple with the why.Within this primary organization, the author places a heavy emphasis on explaining the fundamental mechanistic similarities. Currently in use at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada, McMurry's Organic Chemistry is also an international bestseller from the United Kingdom to the Pacific Rim. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Not so bad, really...
I used this book abroad while studying chemistry for four years in Scotland. As I remember it now, it was the only required organic chemistry text, (for reaction mechanisms - i.e. aside from the various supplementary spectroscopic texts). There were color diagrams in our version, and I still refer to it. I highly recommend this text. The notion that one could completely digest its contents in an undergraduate chemistry course beggars belief.

Organic Chemistry:4th Edition by John McMurry
Organic Chemistry:4th Edition by John McMurry is a great book. I've read almost all the chapters in this book. Everything is easy to read and understand. Although there are a few mistakes in this book I believe this is a great book. Anyone who wants to purchase this book must buy the Solutions Manual for McMurry's Organic Chemistry (by Susan McMurry) because the book itself doesn't have all the answers to the questions and has no solutions. I haven't read any other organic chemistry books yet and this is the one I've used to learn organic chemistry. Therefore, I can't compare this one to the other organic chemistry books. I was able to learn organic chemistry on my own using this book before I took my organic chemistry courses a couple of yrs ago and I got A's in all of my organic chemistry classes. Of course, one must not forget that it takes time to learn organic chemistry. I think it's a great book if purchased with its solutions manual.

GOOD BOOK - BUT STAY AWAY FROM CHM247 AT U of T
This textbook was good - I just hate organic chemistry! I would advise you to buy this book if you need it - just don't go past CHM138 at the University of Toronto, because CHM247 is a pain in the ass.

Ok for Introductory OChem
Like many have mentioned, the book is good for beginners and intro classes. The problems and material are relatively "simple." If that is all you require, "easy," not very indepth and just the simple basics, the book does it's job.

A low-level text masquerading as a rigorous organic text
I have taught undergraduate organic chemistry for almost 10 years and have used this book (not by choice) for most of them. This book is incredibly easy to read and that is why many students like it. But the price that the instructor pays for that is in it's lack of depth. This book is NOT rigorous enough for the average science major/pre-professional student. In fact, I have used one semester, nursing level texts that were more rigorous than this book (Harold Hart's Organic Chemistry: A Short Course comes to mind). If you want a comprehensive and rigorous 2-semester organic text, I would recommend Loudon's Organic Chemistry far ahead of this nice and pretty but shallow text. ... Read more

Book Description

This laboratory manual contains 42 experiments for the standard course sequence of topics. The author has taken care to make each experiment workable while encouraging readers to use critical thinking. Experiment format provides clear instructions and evaluation. Each lab begins with a set of goals, a discussion of the topics, and examples of calculations.Experiments relate to basic concepts of chemistry and health and are designed to illustrate chemical principles, often using common materials that are familiar to readers.For anyone interested in general, organic, or biological chemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

kinda confusing, okay overall
i read this book for a chemistry class, and although it was usually fairly clear, which helped a lot, at times the author broke into the first person and started making jokes in the text, which really bugged me.additionally, the examples of problems in the text were usually much easier than the problems at the end of the chapters, so since i couldn't look in the text for help, i was often stumped.
additionally, the text sometimes asked the reader questions like "why does this happen," without providing the answer anywhere.if you didn't know the answer, you obviously weren't gonna learn it, and as a busy college student, i wasn't gonna spend fifteen minutes looking up the answer to these minor questions that should have just been answered in sentence form, as this is a textbook, after all, not a test.my teacher provided those, and thats why i need the text book.
all in all, the book was usually clear, which i liked, but it had some structural faults i didn't.

Good examples, hidden humor
Step by step examples help tremendously with learning the problem-solving techniques used in this book.I also love the random goofiness found at points in the text.It made me almost want to read the whole thing just to find the funny stuff! ... Read more

Book Description

On the cover of this book is a Pacific yew tree, found in the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest. The bark of the Pacific yew tree produces Taxol, found to be a highly effective drug against ovarian and breast cancer. Taxol blocks mitosis during eukaryotic cell division. The supply of Taxol from the Pacific yew tree is vanishingly small, however. A single 100-year-old tree provides only about one dose of the drug (roughly 300 mg). For this reason, as well as the spectacular molecular architecture of Taxol, synthetic organic chemists fiercely undertook efforts to synthesize it. Five total syntheses of Taxol have thus far been reported. Now, a combination of isolation of a related metabolite from European yew needles, and synthesis of Taxol from that intermediate, supply the clinical demand. This case clearly demonstrates the importance of synthesis and the use of organic chemistry. It's just one of the many examples used in the text that will spark the interest of students and get them involved in the study of organic chemistry! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Necessity for Organic Chemistry Success!
If you are a student of organic chemistry using the textbook, Organic Chemistry, by the same author, I highly recommend purchasing this manual to accompany the text. Unlike many textbook solution guides, where they only include odd or even numbered problems, this manual includes all the answers to all the problems found in the textbook! In addition to chapter solutions, the author also includes solutions to questions in the special topics section found near the end of the text.

Aside from the solutions, there are other goodies. As the title suggests, this book is not just a solutions manual, but a study guide too. After each chapter of solutions, the authors include a short quiz to that can be used to see if the student has grasped the essential concepts for the chapter. Also, in the study guide, you will find a summary of all the important syntheses that comes in handy when doing homework.

I used this solutions guide as an undergraduate and can't imagine what type of grades I would have received if it weren't for this book! Highly recommended!

Pretty Good
I used this book in my udergrad. It is a fairly easy to read book. The graphics and diagrams are good, but it wouldn't hurt to improve them a bit. It is filled with lots of examples and practice problems. The bibliographical references are excellent for those who are interested in finding out in more detail about a certain topic. ... Read more

Book Description

This edition features the successful format that has characterized the previous editions. It includes essays that add relevance and interest to the experiments, and emphasis on the development of the important laboratory techniques, the use of spectroscopy and instrumental methods of analysis, a section featuring conventional-scale experiments and methods, and a wide selection of well-tested and well-written experiments. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Lab Text But Not Everyone Has To Buy It
Though a complete laboratory text with 50+ experiments, lab techniques, tables of unknowns and spectroscopy, the organic faculty prepare our own lab manual to be followed. Pavia text becomes a close handy reference for lab techniques and setup. The techniques section, which include filtration, crystallization, distillation (simple, fractional, and steam), chromatogrpahy (column, thin-layer, and gas)... should be carefully studied before conducting experiments for beginning students. Unless your organic lab course follows almost exactly the outline of experiments in this text, you can check it out from the library and read it.

Best organic laboratory manual available!
I have taken a full course using this book and I think that it is the best one I have seen! Organic chemistry is a hard subject and this book lays it out in an understandable way. The "techniuques" section is current, readable, and the pictures are well done. The essays that accompany many of the experiments are entertaining and give good background information that helps doing the experiments more enjoyable. Probably the best section is the "identification of unknowns" section which lays out in a good logical way how to identify what you have in the lab. I think that the book also addresses and promotes a great trend in chemistry i.e. microscale research that reduces waste and promotes conservation of chemicals and the environment. ... Read more

Book Description

John Suchocki's Conceptual Chemistry: Understanding Our World of Atoms and Molecules makes chemistry come alive for the nonscience reader through an engaging writing style, fun and easy-to-perform experiments, and a multimedia package that is as uniquely integrated as it is extensive. Building on the success of the First Edition, this revised book provides a fresh, insightful, and welcoming look into the concepts of chemistry.Twelve core chapters cover basic chemical concepts including atomic models, chemical bonding, and chemical reactions. These are followed by seven chapters organized around applied chemistry topics such as nutrition, drugs, agriculture, water resources, the atmosphere, modern materials, and energy sources.For college instructors, students and readers interested in chemistry. ... Read more

Book Description

From the reviews of the previous editions:
* "For completeness, the authors . . . include protective groups and techniques for formation and cleavage that are seldom used as well as those that are more common. . . . Anyone who does organic synthesis must have convenient access to this book." -Journal of the American Chemical Society.
* "Essential to the modern synthetic organic chemist . . . should be in the libraries of all academic, governmental, and industrial organizations concerned with organic synthesis." -Polymer News.

Reflecting the latest advances in protective group methodology, this Third Edition of the proven laboratory reference is expanded by more than 50%, providing readers with a comprehensive compendium of 1,050 of the most useful protective groups as well as 5,350 references to original publications. Protective groups are organized by six major organic functional groups: hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, carbonyl, sulfhydryl, and phosphate groups (the last new to this edition). Also added in this edition are protection of the alkyne-CH, expanded coverage of protection of all groups, and many new enzymatic methods of protection and deprotection. Each chapter briefly describes the classes of available protective groups, followed by an in-depth look at the chemistry of individual protective groups, their properties, and the best methods of formation and cleavage. Ten reactivity charts with more than 28,000 entries summarize the relative reactivities of 270 commonly used protective groups with 108 reagents. This book will be an indispensable reference for synthetic chemists and students. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Book Will be Your Bible in Lab
If you doing any sort of organic chemistry in the lab, you will really get your hands into this handy reference on protecting groups. The book neatly organized into functional groups and their protecting groups. A Primer for organic chemists. It will save you zillion hours of researching for papers/references on the appropriate protecting groups used in reactions.

Essential
If you are a graduate student in organic chemistry then this book is a must. It will help with class work as well as your lab work. This book is the authority on protective groups and is an essential reference. Have no qualms about purchasing it.

Quintessential Book for Organic Chemists
This book is absolutely essential for the organic chemist. Well organized by functional group to be protected and well indexed to allow searches by protection group, this book has it all. If you have a question about how to protect a particular functional group, this is the book for it. Under each section a plethora of references may be found--with each one succinctly summarized to avoid looking for references that have nothing to do with what you want. This book is essential whether you are a graduate student studying what reactions you need to know to do the research assigned you or a professor writing research proposals (indeed, I bought my own copy of this book from Amazon because the ones in our school library were always checked out to one of the professors). In summary, it is an excellent reference text that should be on every organic chemist's desk.

essential reference
Like every other edition of Greene's Protective Groups, this updated version is concise with reliable references and schematics. All researchers need this book.

Indispensible
Quite possibly the most important protecting group book published. The new edition is out and is even more extensive and completely up to date. However, "Greene and Wuts" is a bible in the laboratory. Many of you who will read this have probably scrambled for your copy of "Greene," as it is affectionately known, when designing a synthesis. Also check out Kocienski's protecting group book and his extensive reviews if you do not know about them. ... Read more

Book Description

For years, college students in pre-med courses, or majoring in biology, chemical engineering, and many other science courses have searched for a study aid of this kind, but have come up empty-handed. Now, Barron's has precisely what they've been seeking! OrgoCards is a set of more than 160 5 1/2" x 7" cards that summarize reactions and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry. A sophisticated variation on the time-proven "flashcard" method of study, the cards summarize organic reactions in 21 functional groups, such as alcohols and alkenes. Card number-one in each group outlines the group's physical and chemical properties. Each subsequent card explains a specific reaction, starting with a diagram of the reaction, and followed by a Keys section that summarizes the most important data related to this reaction. Following the list of Keys is a Notes section giving miscellaneous information. The back of each card contains a detailed reaction Mechanism, in both text and diagram forms. OrgoCards emphasize repetition and serve as aids to memorization to prepare students for examinations. These flashcard-style summaries highlight organic chemistry data that is vital for success on tests, fostering the student's comprehension in ways that standard textbooks cannot do. Organic chemistry is a required course in most college-level science programs, and knowledge of the subject is a requirement for success in admissions tests for medical, dental, and veterinary schools everywhere. Here is the learning tool that successful students will be turning to! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Overall, there is no need to purchase this card set
The main problem with OrgoCards is that it is not really a set of two sided flash cards. It is simply a shortened text book in card form. The cards are not 3 X 5 index cards and they contain a lot of information on them, much of which is not really necessary. You are better off making your own flashcards.

not very helpful
I purchased these cards hoping to improve my understanding and also to use them for reviewing before tests in my organic chem 2 class. The cards were not useful for either task. If you don't already understand the material from class the cards won't help clarify material. In addition, many of the reactions were not even covered by my instructor, particularly in the aldehyde/ketone section of the cards. This could confuse the heck out of someone. These cards might help you review but won't help you learn or understand.

A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO CLASS-NOTES
The portable cards which constitute this 'book' are well-designed. They will assist any student who is taking undergraduate organic chemistry course prepare for revisions. Although that they lacked details in some respects, their coverage did embrace wide areas.
They are particularly useful in learning about the various nomenclature, as well as the physical and chemical properties of a functional group in a given homologous series.
"OrgoCards" impressed me with the way it handled those nucleophilic substitution reactions that members of Carbonyl group undergo. Despite its haphazard lessons on Acylation, its efforts on Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Esters, and Carboxylic acids are quite commendable.
This "OrgoCards: Organic Chemistry Review" should be seen either as a textbook complement, or a notebook alternative. I will suggest that you consider buying it if your lecturer is the type that is not enthusiastic about giving class-notes.

Fantastic!!!
These Orgocards were extremely useful not only while studying for my organic chemistry course but especially for the MCAT.

I tried making my own flashcards but I found them immediately obsolete after I got Orgocards which contain the critical information in a very understandable and easy to read format. They were also really a critical part of my studying for the bio section of the MCAT since a lot of the detailed info from o-chem had become a bit fuzzy by that point.

A definite must buy.

Wow, It is GREAT!
I used it for studying the o-chem portion of the MCAT this summer. These cards are fantastic, full of details and great summaries and figures. It is too bad that it was not available a year ago when I was studying for the course. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

If you want top grades and excellent understanding of general, organic and biological chemistry, this powerful study tool is the best tutor you can have! It takes you step-by-step through the subject and gives you accompanying related problems with fully worked solutions. You also get hundreds of additional problems to solve on your own, working at your own speed. This superb Outline clearly presents every aspect of general, organic and biological chemistry. Famous for their clarity, wealth of illustrations and examples, and lack of dreary minutia, SchaumÕs Outlines have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. Compatible with any textbook, this Outline is also perfect for self-study. For better grades in courses covering general, organic and biological chemistry, and invaluable preparation for careers in the health professionsÑyou canÕt do better than this SchaumÕs Outline! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Energy
Recall that ordinary salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine. List several systems that can be defined in a shaker full of salt.

If you love O. Chem... what's wrong with you?!
I have found the Schaum's Review series very helpful both in review and in independent study, especially for Organic Chemistry. Many times, chemistry students fail to learn key concepts not because they are incomprehensible (thankfully) but rather because they were either explained badly or simply explained in a way that does not make sense to a student. This book explains all the key concepts and includes almost 2000 problems to make sure you understand O. Chem. clearly even if you're so sick of it you're comtemplating shoving an Erlenmyer full of benzene down your professor's Organic throat. Buy it, and save your sanity. ... Read more

Book Description

General, Organic, and Biological Chemistryprovides a readable, uncomplicated and accessible introduction to those in allied health and other fields who have little or no background in chemistry. The author uses the same style and integrated pedagogy that have made her one-semester book so successful, balancing technical accuracy and everyday examples to help chemistry come to life for readers.For college instructors and students. ... Read more

Book Description

This book not only covers reactions, products and processes with and from biological catalysts, but also the process of designing and improving such biocatalysts, taking into account all recent insights.
A unique feature is that the fields of organic chemistry, biology and bioengineering receive equal attention, such that practitioners and students from all three areas are addressed. ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes the operation of a particular technique for the production of compound semiconductor materials. It describes how the technique works, how it can be used for the growth of particular materials and structures, and the application of these materials for specific devices. It contains not only a fundamental description of the operation of the technique but also contains lists of data useful for the everyday operation of OMVPE reactors. It also offers specific recipes that can be used to produce a wide range of specific materials, structures, and devices.

Key Features
* Updated with new emphasis on the semiconducting nitride materials-GaN and its alloys with In and Al
* Emphasizes the newly understood aspects of surface processes
* Contains a new chapter, as well as several new sections in chapters on thermodynamics and kinetics ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Definitely a masterpiece
I'm surprised by the online reviews for this book so far and it seems to me they are written by people who do not fully understand (or appreciate) the kinetic, thermodynamic, thermal issues, mass transport, fluid dynamic or reactor design aspects of OMVPE. Whether you're starting out or have been in the field for a while, this book is a must have. Stringfellow is one of the few people who understands the finer aspects of OMVPE. His qualitative and quantitative treatment of concepts is lucid, accurate and comprehensive. The older edition was getting out of date. The newer one adds information generated in the recent past. I would suggest browsing through the book and rating it yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Not a particularly useful text
If you are unfamiliar with the field of OMVPE this text would serve as a good introduction. It does indeed cover the fundamentals of the OMVPE process. However, that is about all it covers. For those in industry or academia who are already acquainted with OMVPE, this book adds very little to your knowledge or understanding. The theoretical and mathematical treatment of the various issues listed is practically nonexistent. The sections that actually contain formulae are few and far between. Again, this is great if you are just starting to learn; this is rather disappointing if you are looking for an in-depth treatment of OMVPE. The one saving grace is that there are extensive lists of references that you can track down to find the details that are left out of the book itself. That's a lot of money for just a reference list though.

Stringfellow is the authority on OMVPE. Great Book.
This is a great book if you want to know the science of OMVPE. Stringfellow is considered by many people to be the authority on this subject. You can't go wrong with this book. It's referenced in nearly every OMVPE journal article I have read.

Buy This Book If You're Using Someone Else's Money!!
This has come to be used as a text or reference in the field of compound semiconductor epitaxy only because of the absence of anything better! This is a cursory introduction to a very broad field by a man whose own experiences have little relevance or bearing on the state of the art. A fair attempt is made at covering the basics of the subject and a good number of relevant publications are cited. Unfortunately the book has all the charm and utility of the author which cannot be quantatively evaluated without the use of negative numbers! I have found a good use for this book in my laboratory though, as one of my workbenches had a short leg under which this fit nicely! ... Read more

Book Description

Since its original appearance in 1977, Advanced Organic Chemistry has found wide use as a text providing broad coverage of the structure, reactivity and synthesis of organic compounds. The Fourth Edition provides updated material but continues the essential elements of the previous edition. The material in Part A is organized on the basis of fundamental structural topics such as structure, stereochemistry, conformation and aromaticity and basic mechanistic types, including nucleophilic substitution, addition reactions, carbonyl chemistry, aromatic substitution and free radical reactions. The material in Part B is organized on the basis of reaction type with emphasis on reactions of importance in laboratory synthesis. As in the earlier editions, the text contains extensive references to both the primary and review literature and provides examples of data and reactions that illustrate and document the generalizations. While the text assumes completion of an introductory course in organic chemistry, it reviews the fundamental concepts for each topic that is discussed.

The Fourth Edition updates certain topics that have advanced rapidly in the decade since the Third Edition was published, including computational chemistry, structural manifestations of aromaticity, enantioselective reactions and lanthanide catalysis.The two parts stand alone, although there is considerable cross-referencing. Part A emphasizes quantitative and qualitative description of structural effects on reactivity and mechanism. Part B emphasizes the most general and useful synthetic reactions. The focus is on the core of organic chemistry, but the information provided forms the foundation for future study and research in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, biological chemistry and physical properties of organic compounds. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Update of a Classic
This is an update on a classic text that has been used by many graduate and advanced undergraduate students. The core of the book is still an excellent survey of older literature and of enormous use to students. There are also many excellent problems. Unfortunately, there is not as much new material or references in some sections. I found I had to frequently supplement the text with current readings. The use of modern theory is especially lacking.

Course on Physical Organic Chemistry
Carey and Sundberg had written the most detailed and briliant account in the subject of organic chemistry. This volume along with Part B (Reactions and Synthesis) contribute to the most updated account in advanced organic chemistry. Part A deals with chemical bonding + structure, basic stereochemical principles, conformational analysis, stereoelectronic effects, and organic reaction mechanisms.

For many organic students, a basic picture of chemical bonding and structure is more than adequate. The mathematical complications in physical chemistry have haunted many organic students including myself. Carey and Sundberg discuss concepts in chemical bonding and structure most relevant to organic chemistry and organic compounds in very plain language. This volume covers valence bond, molecular orbital theory (MO), Huckel molecular orbital theory, interaction between sigma and pi systems, hyperconjugation. The book also frontier orbital theory (HOMO, LUMO, PMO) in the context of perturbation theory.

The coverage on stereochemistry is succinct but detailed. It introduces ideas of enantiomeric and diastereomeric relationships. It also emphasizes on the significance and consequence of prochiral relationships and stereochemistry of dynamic processes. Conformational analysis is discussed mostly in the context of 3-membered to 7-membered ring systems. The book also provides thorough discussion on kinetic vs. thermodynamic control in mechanisms. Some of the less-easy-to-grasp concepts are discussed in details such as the Hammond's Postulate, Curtin-Hammett Principles and isotope effects. The book also contains a section on inorganic catalysis, Lewis acid catalysis and solvent effects. It further reinforces the theory and concept studied in introductory courses.

The rest of the book focuses on some of the most significant organic reactions: their substrates, reaction mechanism, choice of solvents, intermediates, and possible stereochemical outcomes. Part A mostly deal with all the above except for stereochemical outcomes. This book covers nucleophilic substitution (Sn1, Sn2, Sn1b), polar addition and elimination reaction, carbocation and cabanion chemistry, and finally an introduction of reactions of carbonyl compounds without emphasizing on the stereochemical outcomes. The book provides an abundance of reaction examples organized in schemes. It makes studying very effective and helpful. The coverage on factors affecting nucleophilic reactions (leaving group ability, steric strain, substitutent effect, solvent, neighboring group participation) is excellent, so much better than most titles currently available.

The book concludes with sections on aromaticity, aromatic substitution, concerted reactions, and free-radical reaction. The section on aromatic substitution covers structure-reactivity relationships and specific reactions such as nitration, halogenation, Friedel-Crafts, diazonium coupling and addition-elimination. The section on cncerted reactions are basic meant to give a taste of these reactions. A more detailed account of these reactions will be found in Part B. Overall Carey and Sundberg is not an easy book to read. It assumes a basic knowledge of an introductory organic chemistry course. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students will welcome this new edition and the depth of materials covered.

Great book, a must have
This book is outstanding in explaining the kinetic/mechanistic aspect of reactions and the study of mechanisms in organic as well as in inorganic chemistry (catalysis). It starts out with a nice introduction of the relevant concepts (i.e. MO theory, PMO theory and Quantum Mechanics-not rigourously) specially designed for organic chemists and students who do not have/need a very intricate mathematical background, with the overall achievement of making it a really easy book to read and understand. Definitely, this book and Part B of it are a must have for any chemist!!

Great Book for Graduate studies
I used this book for Physical Organic Chemistry. The chapters are well written and inspire thought. The problem sets are long and have a great variety of problems to work out, but I suggest that you look up the references to many of them. There were a few minor errors in the editing. I recommend this book to everyone studying Organic Chemistry...a must have book.

This book has an unimpeachable reputation at Lomonosov MSU
Should you be a true chemist (whatever specialization), get the Carey&Sundberg's book! It features high degree of perspicuity, and is therefore highly recommended for our students of Master's Program at the Department of Organic Chemistry for individual perusal. Personally, I used to re-read it to get profound understanding of the Art. Together with March's, it deserves deep obeisance (and wide usage), undoubtedly widening one's ken. We are planning to translate the fourth Edition into Russian.....Insistently recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The best modern Organic Chemistry text I have come across!
This is undoubtedly the best modern book for learning Organic Chemistry. It simply cannot be compared with any of the traditional texts like Morrison and Boyd, because it presents Organic Chemical research as a cutting edge science of the present and future. Since it was first published in 2001, in this book you will find accounts of reactions and reagents that you will simply not find in any similar text. From Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira couplings to very important new reactions like Grubbs' olefin metathesis, it covers the whole gamut of current organic chemistry. The most important and fascinating aspect of the book is the almost countless examples of modern drugs, pesticides and other molecules that are presented to illustrate the reactions. In this, for example, one can find the example of how the simple concept of pKa of acids was used in the synthesis of Ranitidine, the best selling drug of today. Or a separate interesting chapter on Sulfur chemistry and Asymmetric Synthesis as applied to important problems in Biology and Medicine.
In fact, the whole approach is very much bioorganic as well as highly practical. From this book, we learn how organic chemistry is used in a highly exciting manner by real life chemists solving real life problems. It truly conveys the excitement in organic chemistry as practiced today. I believe that if you can thoroughly grasp the principles in this book, you are probably comparable to the best organic chemistry graduate in the world. The informal and honest style of the authors is almost too good to believe. Boxed material which contains key points and the colour used in the book make it a very attractive one. The book is a source of an incredible amount of information. The authors must have really spent a lot of efforts in writing it. Truly a book for the 21st century.
A book which is an absolute must on the shelves of practicing chemists and students alike.

the best undergrad text in organic chemistry available
I bought this book on the suggestion of one of the reviewers to get an overview of fundamentals of Organic Chemistry in my way to clear cumulative examinations.I'm in total agreement with the previous reviewers.I went through many of the undergrad texts in organic and I'm certain that this is the best among available.This is really a 21st cetury organic text.The approach adopted is very personal(as if the authors were directly talking to you).The language used was piquant.This book is a bonanza of information.The good things about this book are they used pKa values to predict the rates of different reactions and they widely used the MOT to interpret the reaction mechanism and stereochemistry in many reactions.They made the embittered subject caviar to the general. Students who have read this book can't be overwhelmed by the mind boggling mechanisms their professors write. I would also like to suggest Norman & Coxon's "Principles of Organic Synthesis"(published by nelsonthornes)for a comprehensive coverage of synthesis stuff.That's a reader friendly text and gives you the logic of synthesis(unlike the Carey's book that presents all the reactions sequentially which are often not rationalized)

One of the best Organic chemistry textbooks
This is an exceptionally good book of organic chemistry. The detailled mechanistic of different substitution reactions has no equivalent in other textbooks. The quantitative use of pKa values to explain reactivity and the good discussion of Hammett relationships makes it also excellent. The book is specially good for biological or pharmaceutical oriented students. They will found plenty of examples why their work is relevant.
As the authors clearly stated, it could not be directly used in a sophomore american course. However, it would be very good as a reference and for advanced organic chemistry courses.

Great intermediate organic chemistry textbook
This book is very good for the students who already have the intro organic chem. I actually bought this book to review the material for my organic synthesis final exam and I am very satisfied. The book covers the reactions and machanisms that are very up-to-date. A lot of them cannot be found in typical intro, American orgo textbook, but they are essential in total synthesis these days. Some of these are Mitsunobu reaction, Heck reaction, Stille coupling, Dieckeman rearrangement, etc. I think the book will also fit the grad student who are seeking to review basic material for cumulative exam, though one should also consult more advance books like March's or Carey's advanced orgo chem all along in this case. I actually found the book rather synthesis-oriented, but it does give enough explanation in terms of molecular orbitals to understand why reactions occur in certain way. However, one should also be aware that the explanations may be quite basic and might not satisfy the hardcore physical organic chemist, but again, quite sufficient for synthetic chemist. I really like the authors' style because they do not only tell you reaction in great details, but they also give you its utility in real world of organic synthesis. They also make extensive connections between chapters and help the reader to understand the big picture.

If you are seeking the intro orgo chem textbook, I think this one may very well be applicable, but be prepared to wrok hard on it because there are a lot more materials than typical intro orgo book and extensive connections between chapters. But for sure, one will gain rigorous foundation for more advanced class like organic synthesis. ... Read more

Book Description

From the reviews of the Fourth Edition ...
"March has been uncompromising in his search for clarity and utility in presentations of a wide variety of essential organic chemistry. It remains an accessible and useful tool for both specialists and nonspecialists in the field. It does an excellent job both as a text for first-year graduate students and a handy reference for others."-Journal of Chemical Education
"The ratio of information to price makes this book a wonderful bargain."-American Scientist
New to this Fifth Edition:
* Michael Smith from the University of Connecticut joins as coauthor for the Fifth Edition
* Contains 20,000 valuable, selected references to the primary literature-5,000 new to this edition
* 40 entirely new sections covering the most important developments in organic chemistry since the previous edition
* Updated illustrations of molecular structures ... Read more

Reviews (17)

I don't believe it...
...after more than twenty years, this book is still in print! When I graduated in organic chemistry in Switzerland, almost 15 years ago, earlier editions of this book were already much in use, almost a must, both indispensable and useful, as close to a reference book as it can get, based on a clear presentation of the actual and essential knowledge. Both wide in scope and very comprehensive. Things haven't really changed, now have they?

Enjoy the clarity and the good segmentation of the state of the art with numerous good and insightful examples. Also contains a great deal of valuable references.

This book is worth buying and consulting, both for a student as well as for a practicing chemist. Says it all.

Fantastic!
The reason you will like this book is because it contains pretty much everything you will ever need to know about organic chemistry. It lacks many mechanisms but will refer you to the paper utilizing the reaction you need. This book, as well as Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, is an essential reference for the organic chemist. Buy it!

1495 Page Bible Of General Reactions And Mechanisms
I paid more for my 4th ed. new, and find it to be worth even more. It is not a cookbook per se, but it is a very comprehensive textbook that details general reactions by functional group. It outlines every way known to remove, add to, or otherwise modify every functional group. There is as much commentary as is needed, if not more, and every pathway is mentioned regardless of how exotic or primitive and low-yielding. The corresponding OS synth refs for specific cpds. are given for each type of reaction, along with a total of 15,000 other refs in footnotes. This was cutting-edge in 92, with much updating of the 3rd ed. The index will take you to the section that shows how to make the manipulations you want - if it doesn't, it probably can't be done.

March's Advanced Organic Review by a user
As usual, March's brings tens of thousands of reactions and structures to the desktop. While used as a text by graduate courses everywhere in the US, it remains one of my favorite desktop references as a working chemist. For a chemist doing analytical, physical, environmental, or nearly any kind of chemistry that deals with organic reactions and/or molecules at one time or another, you can barely afford to be without it, unless you work at a library. Best of all, March's gives you an excellent set of references for more depth on any reaction. Just the same, the mechanistic side tends to be a bit short or sometimes not illustrated as well as elsewhere. Also, the paper is way too thin, giving bleed through if I copy it for reference to give someone else when trying to prove or illustrate a point. Its also a bit fragile and sometimes harder to read because of that. It really should be better paper and two volumes by now. Softcopy would be even better. I haven't used this new edition enough to be certain, but I think there are more typos and so forth in it than I remember seeing in my earlier edition. Just the same, it is extremely useful and packs a lot of info. into a small package. Which I had it in softcopy, though. It has saved my several trips to the library in the month I've had the new edition.

A must have for any serious chemist
I ordered this book based on a recommendation of a fellow chemist in my organic chemistry classes. Once I got it, it blew my mind. I ordered it for my advanced organic chemistry class, and it's been extremely helpful. I've taken it to entry-level organic chemistry classes and read it while the professor lectured. Not only did I find everything he was talking about, but it was explained better. If anyone seeks to better themselves in chemistry, or just have it as a reference guide, this book covers both. ... Read more

Book Description

Organic and Biological Chemistryprovides a readable, uncomplicated and accessible introduction to those in allied health and other fields who have little or no background in chemistry. The author uses the same style and integrated pedagogy that has made her book so successful, balancing technical accuracy and everyday examples to help chemistry come to life.For college students instructors and students. ... Read more