The textbook should be insightful - I don't simply want facts presented, I want to see how the facts connect together into a larger whole. Usually, teachers fulfill this task, but in this case, I will need some help from the textbook.
I don't want organic chemistry to be an experience in advanced memorization for me. The previous point helps in addressing this issue, but I would like to reiterate it. I would like to have a textbook that helps me understand why each class of reactions is important (what can one do, that the other can't?) in a chemist (or an organism's) toolbox - I don't want to be memorizing reactions, I want to be putting them into my toolbox.
Beyond those, I've found Fleming's Molecular Orbitals and Organic Chemical Reactions to be a very good introduction to qualitative MO theory, but it's not a general-purpose text. March's Advanced Organic Chemistry is the ultimate, all-encompassing reference manual, and I'd consider it the sine qua non of any good organic chemistry library. As an aside, McQuarrie and Atkins have both published very good physical chemistry textbooks, which in many ways have been more enlightening than any textbook specific to organic chemistry. I'm also a fan of Oxtoby's Principles of Modern Chemistry as a general chemistry textbook; its mathematical and physical rigor is incredibly admirable, even if it does sometimes lack severely in concision. I've also heard unanimous praise for Housecroft & Sharpe's Inorganic Chemistry, but I've yet to read more than a few sections of it.
If you are professor, it is also going to be a solid bet for planning lectures. And besides, it is a great organic chemistry reference textbook for any chemist. This book sits on my shelf since I started studying undergraduate chemistry, and it always have a place there. Also it is one of the few affordable stand-alone chemistry textbooks out there.
Many consider Clayden as the best book for organic chemistry. Clayden emphasizes on concepts, and binding those concepts together, building up in top of each other. The first edition was published in 2001, but the last one (2012) covers greatly the most relevant topics in organic chemistry of the last years, such as the palladium catalyzed Suzuki or Heck reactions, or the Grubbs metathesis reaction (all of them awarded the Nobel prize).
The style of the book is quite unique. It is written in an informal and honest way that makes it extremely pleasant to follow. Furthermore, many examples based on interesting/famous molecules or chemical problems are presented throughout the book. The only drawbacks that I can think of is that some of the final chapters, such as the ones for organometallic chemistry, would be better off if they were a bit more expanded. Also, there are no in-chapter problems. Finally, as you can see, the last edition is from 2012; if getting a very up-to-date textbook is in your top priorities, maybe you should look into other texts.
Otherwise, Clayden is clearly the superior tool for learning organic chemistry. Remarkably, they use the molecular orbitals theory as a model to rationalize explanations for the very beginning, which is great for learning purposes.
Coming up second right after Clayden, its Organic Chemistry by David R. Klein. From a purely introductory organic chemistry textbook point of view, Klein Organic Chemistry might come up slightly above Clayden Organic Chemistry.
Klein Organic Chemistry Standalone Book uses a skills-based approach. They introduce and build on top of all the typical concepts that you can find in any organic chemistry textbook. But they emphasize on the developments of skill to understand and support these concepts. Many professors I know believe that this book follows the best approach to teaching organic chemistry.
The book includes many problems, notonly at the end of each chapter (the traditional manner), but also whereverthey might be relevant for the reader to understand the content. If you arereally intro problems, you might also want to grab a copy of the student study guide and solutions manual.
David R. Klein is not only author ofthe standalone book that we ranked as the best organic chemistry textbook, butalso has published Organic Chemistry asSecond Language. I found that many people confuse both of them, but theyare two completely different books. KleinOrganic Chemistry Standalone s a classical 1300-pages-long textbook whichcovers beautifully all organic chemistry concepts that you will need.
Well, on the other hand, Organic Chemistry as Second Language is like a 400-page condensed version of the longer book. This version mainly omits backstories, unnecessary examples and case studies. It boils it down to what really is important tot understand organic chemistry: concepts, concise introductions, clear explanations, examples and problems.
Organic chemistry is not an easy subject. If you are a student who is going to start taking organic chemistry courses, you need to be prepared. We would say that Organic Chemistry as Second Language is the best organic chemistry book for getting ready to this subject.
If you are just interested in acing organic chemistry, this book is definitely your best weapon. But this does not mean that that this book is just for that. No, it definitely covers everything most other textbooks do, but just in a much more concise and practical way. Furthermore, this book includes all the problem solutions by itself, so there is no need to purchase a separate solutions book.
But it is a rather unusual chemistrytextbook, as it is not the typical full book with over 1000 pages. Consideringthat, we will try to help you decide if OrganicChemistry as Second Language is right for you.
Ladies and gentlemen I present you the best organic chemistry textbook foradvanced users. Carey and Sundberg AdvancedOrganic Chemistry is actually a pair of two textbooks (Part A and Part B), whichcomplement each other very well, but they are completely independent in termsof contents.
This two-part book is my absolutely favorite in thechemistry section of my shelf. I own both the third and fifth edition of theseries, and it has been updated significantly to account for the most recentadvances in research.
Advanced Organic Chemistry is simply the most brilliant and detailed account in the field of organic chemistry. Throughout the two volumes, all concepts are thoroughly explained, with many examples organized in schemes that resemble a real scientific review article. This pair of books is probably not the way for absolute beginners taking their first organic chemistry course (it would still work, but a lot of information will be over your head). However, if you are an intermediate undergraduate to a graduate student, this textbook is must have! Check out each one of the volumes below:
The first part deeply covers the fundamentals oforganic chemistry, and basic types of mechanisms. This is a stand-alonetop-tier book on these topics, but it is very well complemented by the secondvolume, which deals with reactivity and synthesis.
Part B of the absolutely best advanced organicchemistry textbook focuses on types of reactions and their applications inorganic synthesis. The two books together give the most comprehensivefoundation on the study of organic chemistry that you can find.
This book can get you through any general chemistrycourse, and any introductory organic chemistry or even biological chemistrycourses. Besides, if you are interested in learning chemistry by yourself, fromgeneral concepts into organic chemistry, this is most likely the best way up.
Organic Chemistry by Paula Y. Bruice is one of the most recently updated textbooks out there. If you want to put your hands into an organic chemistry textbook that is extremely well written and easy to follow, Bruice should be on your top list.
One of the strongest point is the way the bookredirects you all the time to where the concepts were first discussed. In this,way, if something is not really clear, you can instantly find what you need toread to understand it. This way of focusing on concepts, and further buildingin top of them, brigs up Bruice right behind the 5 best books for organicchemistry.
This is one of the most famous textbooks for organicchemistry, Peter C. Vollhardt is a great educator. It presents all the conceptsand the subject comprehensively. Vollhardt will not only give you the basics,butt it will dive deeper into concepts, reaction mechanisms, and explainingwhat exactly is happening in all types of organic reactions. This a verycomplete book that will never be out of fashion.
If we were to compare it to its direct competitor, Vollhardt, I would say that Vollhardt excels in amount and variety of content. On the other hand, McMurry is much more concise, resulting in clearer explanations. McMurry is very easy to read, and will make you fall in love with organic chemistry! It is also a more affordable option.
The 9th edition of thisbook has been published recently (2016) and it was authored by Leroy G. Wadeand Jan W. Simek. It is a brilliant piece of educational material, anddefinitely stands within the top organic chemistry textbooks.
The downside with Wade is that, fora 2016-last-published book, lacks a lot in the graphical design and formatting.The schemes and drawings are not very appealing and sometimes can be difficultto visualize, which is harmful while learning organic chemistry.
The order in which the contents arepresented is kind of weird. Sometimes it feels like you have to read though thelatest chapters to understand the first ones. That is not the biggest problemever when it comes to a college textbook, but problems such as this prevent itfrom being the best organic chemistry textbook.
Thisis the best organic chemistry book forthe laboratory. The chemistry lab books could fill an entire post withreviews by itself. But I wanted to make sure to add here the best one, as acomplement of any actual textbook that you might have chosen.
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