The document describes an organic reaction roadmap that emphasizes important organic reactions from chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the textbook "Organic Chemistry" by W.H. Brown. The roadmap uses color coding to organize reactions by chapter and allows users to view details and expand specific reactions by clicking on them. It encourages students to not forget early reactions and notes that additional animations and interactive molecules will be added throughout the semester.

1. http://www.chem.memphis.edu/parrill/EMOC/roadmap/index.html
Organic Reaction Roadmap
Below is a roadmap of organic reactions found in chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of "Organic Chemistry", by W. H. Brown.
This roadmap emphasizes the importance of not forgetting early reactions immediately after they are tested. Details about
individual reactions can be obtained by clicking on the reaction conditions near the arrow. The reactions of a particular
chapter can be expanded by clicking on the hub molecule (most central of the color in the color coding scheme below).
Watch for the addition of more animations of reaction mechanism and more rotatable molecules throughout the semester.
Color Coding Scheme (Apologies to those with B&W screens)
• Bright Blue: Reactions from Chapter 2
• Hot Pink: Reaction from Chapter 4 (found in chapter 11 of McMurry's Organic Chemistry)
• Green: Reactions from Chapter 5 (corresponds to chapters 6 and 7 in McMurry's Organic Chemistry)
• Red: Reactions from Chapter 6 (corresponds to chapter 8 in McMurry's Organic Chemistry)
• Orange: Reactions from Chapter 7 (found in chapter 14 of McMurry's Organic Chemistry)
• Dark Blue: Reactions from Chapter 9 (found in McMurry's chapter 17)
http://iverson.cm.utexas.edu/courses/310M/MainPagesSp06/Roadmaps.html
As stated in the syllabus, the “point” of organic chemistry is synthesis, the construction of more complex
molecules from simpler ones. By the end of the semester, you will have to solve synthesis problems in which you put

2. together a sequence of several reactions to convert a starting molecule into a product molecule or product molecules.
How do you study to prepare yourself for these problems? I believe the best way to review/learn organic chemistry
reactions is through the creation of a so-called “roadmap”.
A roadmap is a large piece of paper, usually the size of a poster, in which the essential information (i.e. reagents used,
stereochemistry, regiochemistry, key mechanistic steps) about each reaction we study is recorded. To make a roadmap:
1) Write the names of the key functional groups we study (alkanes, alkyl halides, vicinal dihalides, alkenes, alkynes,
alcohols, ketones/aldehydes, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, amines, thiols, ethers, epoxides, various
aromatic compounds we will study this semester) spread out over the paper. I have prepared a template for 310M/318M.
As an additional aid I have prepared a brief chart summary that lists the important reactions from the entire semester of
310M/318M . You can click here for a pdf version of the 310M reaction summary chart.
http://iverson.cm.utexas.edu/courses/310M/GIFssp04/rxnsummary/610A%20RxnSummary%20.html
2) List all reactions as arrows that point from a starting functional group to a product functional group.
3) On the top of the arrow is written the reagents required to carry out the reaction. For example, you would write an arrow
from “alkenes” to “alkanes” that has “H2 / Pt, Pd, or Ni” written on top of it to describe catalytic hydrogenation.
4) Just under the arrow write the important features of the mechanism of the reaction, listing the stereochemistry (syn or
anti), regiochemistry (Markovinikov, non-Markovnikov), and key mechanistic steps ( i.e. free radical process, E2
elimination, occurs on metal surface, etc.). Note that not all reactions have stereochemistry or regiochemistry
considerations to keep track of, but many do and these issues were discussed at the time the reactions were introduced
to you. Recall that knowing the exact stereochemistry or regiochemistry of a reaction, if relevant, will tell you exactly which
isomer, either which stereoisomer or regioisomer, of a given product is produced (i.e. cis or trans, R or S configuration,
primary or secondary alcohol, etc.)
5) Keep track of those few precious reactions that make or break carbon-carbon bonds. I will make a big deal of these in
class.
http://www.chemistry.ccsu.edu/glagovich/teaching/311/content/o1rxn.html
Organic Chemistry I
Course Content
Reaction Roadmap