Synthesis–Spectroscopy Roadmap Problems: Discovering Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry problems that interrelate and integrate synthesis with spectroscopy are presented. These synthesis–spectroscopy roadmap (SSR) problems uniquely engage second-year undergraduate organic chemistry students in the personal discovery of organic chemistry. SSR problems counter the memorize-or-bust strategy that many students tend to employ in the study of organic chemistry with an instructional strategy that fosters “seeing” connections, “hearing” what a problem has to say, and “feeling” the exhilaration that comes with discovery.