Sciences · Advanced
Organic Chemistry Instruction.
Organic chemistry is not a memorization course, no matter what a first exam suggests. It is a course in mechanistic reasoning — one that becomes almost enjoyable once the underlying logic clicks.
Vinai Sharma teaches organic chemistry as arrow-pushing before nomenclature — students learn to see reactions before they learn to name them, which is exactly how professional chemists actually think.
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Organic Chemistry at a glance.
The essentials every student and family should understand before beginning coursework or tutoring.
- Course Level
- College / MCAT preparation
- Duration
- Full year (two semesters)
- Prerequisites
- General chemistry
- Standardized Alignment
- MCAT · Medical school prerequisites
- Format
- One-on-one live online tutoring
- Coverage
- Organic I and II, MCAT organic chemistry
Section 01
Course Overview
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon-based molecules and the reactions that transform them. Nearly every drug, polymer, and biomolecule is an organic-chemistry story.
The first semester develops nomenclature, stereochemistry, and the fundamental reaction mechanisms — substitution, elimination, and addition — around alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes, and alkynes.
The second semester extends into aromatic chemistry, carbonyl chemistry, and biological molecules. Every reaction is taught through curved-arrow mechanisms so students see reactivity as a coherent language rather than a list of transformations.
Section 02
Major Units
The core structure of the course — every student progresses through these units in a deliberate, connected sequence.
- Unit 01
Structure & Bonding
Hybridization, molecular geometry, and resonance.
- Unit 02
Nomenclature & Functional Groups
IUPAC naming, functional-group identification, and priority.
- Unit 03
Stereochemistry
Chirality, R/S nomenclature, and cis/trans isomerism.
- Unit 04
Substitution & Elimination
SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 mechanisms.
- Unit 05
Alkenes & Alkynes
Addition reactions, Markovnikov's rule, and stereospecificity.
- Unit 06
Alcohols, Ethers & Epoxides
Reactions and interconversions of oxygen-containing groups.
- Unit 07
Aromatic Compounds
Aromaticity, electrophilic aromatic substitution, and directing effects.
- Unit 08
Carbonyl Chemistry
Aldehydes, ketones, and their reactions with nucleophiles.
- Unit 09
Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives
Esters, amides, acyl chlorides, and their interconversions.
- Unit 10
Amines & Bioorganic Chemistry
Amines, amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.
Section 03
Complete Topic & Subtopic Tree
Every topic covered in the full course, broken down into the specific subtopics Vinai Sharma teaches one-on-one.
Foundations
Structure
- Hybridization
- VSEPR
- Bond dipoles
- Formal charge
Resonance
- Rules for arrow pushing
- Resonance stability
- Major & minor contributors
Acidity
- pKa reasoning
- Conjugate base stability
- Inductive & resonance effects
Stereochemistry
- R/S
- E/Z
- Diastereomers
- Meso compounds
Substitution, Elimination & Addition
SN2 & SN1
- Nucleophilicity
- Leaving groups
- Stereochemistry
- Solvent effects
E2 & E1
- Zaitsev's rule
- Hofmann's rule
- Anti-periplanar geometry
Alkene Additions
- Hydrohalogenation
- Hydration
- Halogenation
- Hydroboration
Alkyne Reactions
- Terminal alkyne acidity
- Additions
- Reductions to alkenes
Aromatic & Carbonyl
Aromaticity
- Hückel's rule
- Anti-aromaticity
- Non-aromaticity
EAS
- Halogenation
- Nitration
- Sulfonation
- Friedel-Crafts
Aldehydes & Ketones
- Nucleophilic addition
- Wittig
- Enolate chemistry
Acids & Derivatives
- Ester hydrolysis
- Amide formation
- Interconversions
Special Topics & Biomolecules
Amines
- Basicity
- Reactions
- Diazonium chemistry
Spectroscopy
- IR
- NMR (1H and 13C)
- Mass spectrometry
Carbohydrates
- Structure
- Cyclic forms
- Reactions
Amino Acids & Proteins
- Structure
- Peptide bond formation
- Isoelectric point
Section 04
Skills Developed
The underlying skills every student builds in this course — the durable abilities that carry through to advanced coursework and standardized exams.
Conceptual Understanding
Learning why the science or mathematics works — not just which button to press.
Problem-Solving Fluency
Breaking multi-step problems into manageable, repeatable moves.
Precise Notation & Language
Writing arguments cleanly enough that another mathematician or scientist can follow them.
Quantitative Reasoning
Choosing the right structure and estimating whether an answer is plausible.
Independent Study Habits
Reading a textbook, working through examples, and self-checking without a teacher present.
Exam Readiness
Sustained accuracy under timed conditions, on both school exams and standardized tests.
Section 05
Common Student Challenges
The patterns Vinai Sharma sees most often — and exactly how each is addressed during tutoring.
Section 06
Why Organic Chemistry Matters
Why this course is one of the highest-leverage academic investments a family can make.
MCAT Content Area
Organic chemistry is a major content area on the MCAT's Chem/Phys section and appears throughout Bio/Biochem.
Medical School Prerequisite
Nearly every medical school requires two semesters of organic chemistry.
Foundation for Biochemistry
Every biochemical reaction is an organic reaction. Weak organic makes biochemistry twice as hard.
Pharmaceutical & Chemical Careers
Every pharmaceutical, materials, and chemical-industry role uses organic chemistry vocabulary.
Mechanistic Reasoning Habit
The arrow-pushing habit taught here transfers to every other reasoning-heavy scientific subject.
GPA Preservation
Organic is famous for wrecking pre-med GPAs — strong preparation preserves academic trajectory.
Section 07
Connections to Other STEM Subjects
How Organic Chemistry connects to the rest of the Vinai Sharma curriculum — the courses it prepares students for, and the exams it supports.
General Chemistry
Every organic mechanism uses acid-base and thermodynamic reasoning from general chemistry.
Biochemistry
Enzyme mechanisms are organic mechanisms in a protein active site.
Molecular Biology
DNA replication and transcription are organic-chemistry stories.
Pharmacology
Drug design and mechanism of action rest on organic chemistry.
MCAT
Organic chemistry appears across both science sections of the MCAT.
Materials Chemistry
Polymer chemistry and modern materials science extend directly from organic chemistry.
Science & Math Library
Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Formula Sheet.
A single premium reference covering every formula, definition, and result the course expects — organized by unit, written by Vinai Sharma. The full sheet is being authored and will be published in the Science & Math Library.
Visit the Science & Math LibraryOrganic Chemistry Formula & Reference Sheet
Every key formula, definition, theorem, and reference students need — organized by unit and cross-referenced to the topic tree above.
- Structure & Bonding
- Nomenclature & Functional Groups
- Stereochemistry
- Substitution & Elimination
- Alkenes & Alkynes
- Alcohols, Ethers & Epoxides
Free Resources
A growing library of premium references.
Curated reference material for every Organic Chemistry student. Full guides are being written by Vinai Sharma and will appear in the Science & Math Library as they are published.
Organic Chemistry · Reaction Sheet
Every major reaction from Organic I and II in one organized reference.
Organic Chemistry · Mechanism Playbook
The core mechanisms — SN1, SN2, E1, E2, EAS, nucleophilic addition — with worked examples.
Organic Chemistry · Stereochemistry Guide
R/S, E/Z, and stereospecific reactions with practice problems.
Organic Chemistry · Spectroscopy Guide
IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR with a fixed problem-solving order.
Organic Chemistry · Reagent Guide
Every important reagent and what it does — organized by transformation type.
Organic Chemistry · MCAT Organic Study Guide
A calibrated review plan for the organic-chemistry content on the MCAT.
How Vinai Sharma Teaches
A six-step path from first call to full mastery.
Every student follows the same disciplined arc — from an honest starting point to sustained fluency in the material.
- Step 01
Initial Consultation
A no-pressure conversation about goals, timeline, and current coursework.
- Step 02
Diagnostic Assessment
A focused diagnostic identifies exactly where each unit of the course stands.
- Step 03
Personalized Learning Plan
A written plan mapped to the student's timeline, coursework, and academic goals.
- Step 04
Concept Mastery
Underlying concepts are rebuilt where needed — every skill stands on real understanding.
- Step 05
Guided Problem Solving
One-on-one whiteboard instruction on every difficult problem type in the course.
- Step 06
Assessment Preparation
Targeted preparation for school assessments, standardized exams, and course finals.
Study Plans
Four premium tutoring timelines.
Each plan is a starting framework. Every student's actual schedule is customized after the diagnostic assessment.
Intensive
Focused refinement for students already at a strong baseline heading into a major assessment.
Discuss This PlanStandard
Targeted work on the highest-impact units of the course plus consistent problem practice.
Discuss This PlanComprehensive
Full concept review, unit-by-unit mastery, and periodic assessment checkpoints.
Discuss This PlanMastery
The deepest preparation — foundations rebuilt, every unit mastered, ready for the next course in the sequence.
Discuss This PlanFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions families most often ask before beginning tutoring in this subject.
Ready to Begin
One-on-one organic chemistry instruction with Vinai Sharma.
Book a free consultation to discuss your student's current coursework, goals, and timeline. Every plan is built from an honest starting point.
Begin
Start with a focused strategy conversation.
The strategy session is the first step of working together — a focused academic planning and diagnostic conversation used to understand the student before any ongoing academic support begins.
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