Mechanisms before Reactions: A Mechanistic Approach to the Organic Chemistry Curriculum Based on Patterns of Electron Flow

A significant redesign of the introductory organic chemistry curriculum at the authors’ institution is described. There are two aspects that differ greatly from a typical functional group approach. First, organic reaction mechanisms and the electron-pushing formalism are taught before students have learned a single reaction. The conservation of electrons, atoms, and formal charges, how the use of curved arrows helps describe the mechanism, and...