Understanding and drawing Fischer projections is a critical skill for many organic chemistry students, and definitely a critical skill for biochemistry and your MCAT/DAT or similar exam.
This tutorial series will take you through the very basics of Fischer Projections all the way through the advanced biochemistry concepts. Download my free Fischer Projections Cheat Sheet to follow along with the tutorials.
This is a brand new series including tutorials, videos, cheat sheet and practice quiz. Be sure to check back regularly as I’ll be adding new resources to this page every few days.
Do you need a Model Kit? Watch How to Use Your Organic Chemistry Model Kit.
Let’s start at the very beginning:
What are Fischer Projections? What do they represent?
Video 1 – Introduction to Fischer Projections
Once you understand what they are, you have to be able to classify their chirality centers. That’s exactly what’s covered in video 2 – from simple single-carbon structures to more complex multi-chiral center molecules
Video 2 – Fischer Projection Stereochemistry
Converting Fischer Projections
But Fischer projections cannot be studied in vacuum. To truly understand them you must be comfortable converting to/from Sawhorse projections, Newman projections, even Haworth and Chair structures for sugar molecules.
If you have trouble visualizing these 3-D conversions I recommend picking up a simple model kit. Here’s the one I use and recommend. (If you purchase through this amazon link I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)
Video 3: Sawhorse to Fisher and back
Video 5: Converting Fischer to Hayworth Pyaranose and Furanose
Need help drawing 6-membered rings and chairs? See my tutorial on drawing chairs and ring flips
Feel confident with Fischer Projections? Click to try the Practice Quiz
