This textbook classifies organic chemistry according to mechanism rather than classification of functional groups, with the intention of having students understand by means of problem solving. The emphasis is on the development of skills through a student-centered pedagogical approach. The inclusion of chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectrometry early in the book is an important concept. The book contains the customary chapters on biomolecules, but also presents chapters on industrially important processes and their economics, and environmental chemistry, areas in which every 21st-century-educated scientist should have familiarity.

Introduction Review of Atomic and Molecular Structure Structure, Bonding and Nomenclature of Alkanes Structure, Bonding and Nomenclature of Alkenes, Alkynes, Aromatic Compounds Resonance Aromaticity Structure, Bonding, Nomenclature of Heteroatom Containing Functional Groups More Resonance Chromatography, Mass spectrometry, UV and IR Spectroscopy NMR Spectroscopy Stereochemistry Introduction to Mechanism Nucleophilic Substitution Elimination Reactions Addition to Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution, Synthesis of Aromatic Compounds, Polycyclic and Heterocyclic Compounds Nucleophilic Addition to Carbonyl Groups Nucleophilic Substitution at Carbonyl Groups Lipids and Carbohydrates Substitution a to Carbonyl Groups Rearrangement Reactions Multistep Synthesis 1 – Principles and One Group Disconnections Multistep Synthesis 2 – Two Group Disconnections Polymeric Materials Amines, Alkaloids, Amino acids, Peptides, Nucleic Acids Catalysis Organic Chemistry in Industry Organic Chemistry and the Environment Introduction to Forensic Chemistry