Organic Chemistry [Paperback]

Jonathan Clayden (Author), Nick Greeves (Author), Stuart Warren (Author), Peter Wothers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0198503466 | ISBN-13: 978-0198503460 | Edition: 1

This new and innovative text helps students develop a deeper understanding of organic chemistry. It treats the subject as a coherent whole, complete with numerous logical connections, consequences, and an underlying structure and "language." Employing an approach based on mechanism and reaction type, the book empasizes understanding ideas rather than merely memorizing facts. It shows students how to realistically draw molecules and mechanisms to reveal the fundamental chemistry.

Using a fresh, accessible writing style as well as examples from everyday life, the authors explain the basics of organic chemistry carefully and thoroughly. A special focus on mechanism, orbitals, and stereochemistry helps students gain a solid comprehension of important factors common to all reactions. The book's innovative design enhances clarity and instruction with boxes that separate summary information and other material from the main text; a variety of colors that draw attention to items such as atoms, molecules, and orbitals; and figures that are drawn in red with significant parts emphasized in black. Early chapters feature carbonyl group reactions, and later chapters systematically develop the chemistry through discussions of spectroscopy, stereochemistry, and chemical reactions.

Each chapter opens with a "Connections" box, divided into three columns:


· Building on: Details material from previous chapters that relate to the current chapter


· Arriving at: Provides a guide to the content of the chapter


· Looking forward to: Previews later chapters, which develop and expand the current material

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is veru useful, and it is very different from other student books. I think it is clearly written..." Organische- Chemie.

`"The book is brilliant - we have been waiting for up to 25 years for a decent British text".' John Mann, Professor of Biol. Chemistry, Queens University Belfast

`"This is a book we have all been waiting for! It is based on sound mechanistic reasoning and contains thousands of useful examples for teaching. Its style is approachable and covers both fundamental and more advanced material".' Adam Nelson, Lecturer, University of Leeds

"a magnificent resource", Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, v. 40 no. 12, June 2001

`"The book gives a comprehensive overview of undergraduate-level organic chemistry and is suitable for all 3 years of a BSc degree. The writing and illustrations are very clear and easy".' Dr J G Knight, Lecturer, Newcastle University

`"It is a very modern book showing nicely the interaction between organic chemistry and daily life. It has an unusaul and exciting format".' Frank-Gerrit Klarner, Prof. Dr., Universitat Essen

About the Author

Jonathan Clayden is at University of Manchester. Nick Greeves is at University of Liverpool.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1536 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (August 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198503466
• ISBN-13: 978-0198503460
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 2.4 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best modern Organic Chemistry text I have come across! October 13, 2002

By A. Jogalekar TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intermediate organic chemistry textbook December 17, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

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.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely the Best Modern Organic Chem. Book Around January 2, 2005

By Margel Bonifacio

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a Ph.D. in chemistry student here at University of Nevada and had troubles the past two semesters in passing the written comprehensive exam. I wrote this review to show my utmost appreciation to the authors. They really did a good job in writing this book making every organic chemistry concepts simple and easy to understand; not to mention the inclusion of "arrow-pushing" mechanisms and the latest trend in medicinal chemistry. The book however, is not free from errors but don't fret as they can be easily pinpointed by any serious chemistry graduate student. You can also check out the book's website to see the corrections. To other advanced chemistry students out there, buy this book and you will be thankful for having it. I have more advanced books in my possesion but I value this book the most.