Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 4 R and S configurations are pretty straight-forward when priority group #4 is conveniently in the back of the molecule. There’s even a quick trick for when group #4 is forward (as taught in this video). But what happens when priority group #4 is in the plain of the page? Do […]
Your organic chemistry course will cover many different types of isomers. Isomers have the same molecular formula but something about them is different. Geometric isomers, a type of stereoisomer, differ in their geometry or shape. This happens when substituents are LOCKED in a specific relationship to each other. I say locked because, unlike conformational isomers in […]
Amino acids are biologically active molecules. 19 of the 20 common amino acids have a chiral alpha carbon, 2 amino acids (Leucine and Threonine) have a second chiral center in their side chain. This video shows you how to Find R/S for 3-D amino acids Find R/S and D/L for amino acid Fischer projections Trick […]
Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 3 This video shows you why and how to reverse R and S when group #4 is forward to help you quickly and easily master relative configurations when studying chirality and stereochemistry. (Watch on YouTube: Group 4. Click cc on bottom right for video transcription.) <– Watch Previous Video: R and […]
Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 6 Fischer projections provide a simple 2-dimensional representation for complex 3-dimensional structures. Which is great for drawing complex molecules, but not so much fun if asked to determine R and S configurations. Many books and professors will have you redraw the Fischer projection into a 3-dimensional sawhorse or skeletal structure. I […]
Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 5 R and S configurations are found by ranking substituents on a chiral carbon. This is relatively straight-forward when substituents contain 1-3 atoms. This gets more confusing when the substituents are long, complex, and contain many of the same atoms. This orgo tutorial video shows you how to approach lengthy and […]
Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 7 Finding R and S configurations for non-traditional molecules can be somewhat tricky. This video teaches you how to quickly find configurations of molecules presented in a Newman Projection. Learn how to view the molecule and quickly assign priority WITHOUT the need to redraw into a sawhorse projection. (Watch on YouTube: […]
The key to mastering chirality and stereochemistry is through practice, practice, and more practice. But where do you get all those practice problems? After reviewing the videos in my Chirality and Stereochemistry series, and working through the simple questions in each, see how well you’ve mastered the material by trying my Stereochemistry Practice Quiz below. The […]
Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 2 Chiral carbons are identified as having 4 unique substituents. Finding the Absolute Configuration – R and S comes as a result of ranking and order substituents, specifically by noting the configuration of the top 3 groups. This video shows you how to prioritize substituents to find R and S configurations […]
Chirality is a tough organic chemistry topic. But if you’re reading this you already know. Be sure to watch my chirality video series to make sense of chiral atoms, enantiomers, absolute configuration and finding R/S for simple and complex molecules. The cheat sheet below is meant to serve as a study guide to help you as […]
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