Discover organic
chemistry
and its role in science and medicine.
From classic total syntheses to impossible-looking structures and the medicines of the future. Learn more about chemistry through explanations, videos, problem sets and interactive molecular models.
A complex and dangerous natural product. Saxitoxin is a paralytic shellfish toxin produced by marine bacteria (see ‘red tides’) … and also chemists! Its synthesis was a fundamental unlock for our understanding of sodium ion channels in biology.
The spirit behind my content:
“Chemistry ought not to be for chemists alone.”
— Miguel de Unamuno
What you can find here
Site contents
Molecule Lab
Draw structures, explore 3D geometry, investigate stereochemistry and export your new friends.
Videos & explanations
Learn all about molecules, including ones that look like they should not be able to exist.
Practice problems
Work through organic chemistry problems and solutions at your own pace.
Protecting groups
A broad collection of articles on key protecting groups.
The Freshman Mole
When you need a break from the seriousness: A funny, satirical novel about the freshman experience.
More tools to learn – to be released!
Molecules in three dimensions
Understand what your drawings actually look like
Most molecules aren’t flat – or ‘planar’, as chemists like to say. With the free molecule drawing tool, you can move from a 2D drawing to rotatable 3D geometry, investigate bond angles and stereochemistry, and save images or models for presentations.
Enter 3D Molecule LabA science, tool and art
The art of building molecules
What is total synthesis?
Total synthesis is the complete chemical production of complex molecules like natural products. Initial synthetic endeavours in the 19th century elucidated simple molecules, like Wöhler’s synthesis of urea (urine, lol). As chemists levelled up their power through new chemical reactions and deeper understanding of functional groups, more complex targets came into the realm of possibility. Classics in total synthesis include penicillin, strychnine, vitamin and taxol. Pioneers such as R. B. Woodward, E. J. Corey, and K. C. Nicolaou helped establish the field’s methods, ambitions and ego. The discoveries continue to connect synthetic chemistry with biology and medicine.
Explore the basicsWhy this site exists
Chemistry beyond the textbook
Total-Synthesis.com grew out of my passion for chemistry and my growing list of Total Synthesis videos ↗. The idea is to explain basic and advanced chemistry to students, chemistry nerds and and completely new friends who are not in the field.
Although organic chemistry is obviously the best branch of science (/s), we all need to understand natural sciences more broadly. In my opinion, chemistry is most interesting when it connects across different fields. Organic chemists are already elitist enough, so my site / socials are a place for everyone. However, if you are at the level of googling “how to learn organic chemistry”, you will find other resources more enjoyable.
Thanks for your visit!