Mechanism Inspector was launched at ASE in January this year to help students get to grips with the tricky subject of organic mechanisms. The subject is covered in A-levels, Scottish Highers and the International Baccalaureate, as well as undergraduate studies. The site provides students with the opportunity to learn about and test their understanding of the subject by answering questions on different mechanisms and why one mechanism may be preferred over another.

The latest additions to the already chocka block website include:

• Nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions, resulting in an additional 56 investigations to the site. Each step of these investigations is accompanied by interactive help.
• Background core knowledge of these additional reaction types, as well as further background material, has been added.
• The industrial synthesis of paracetamol which highlights where the basic reaction types are used in commercial products.

For those that have made the most of Mechanism Inspector or want to move onto the next level with organic mechanisms, Synthesis Explorer is for you! You can create your own sythetic pathways by choosing from a wide range of starting compounds and reacting them to reveal details of the reaction conditions and reagents.

So whether learning about organic mechanisms for the first time or giving yourself a refresher on the subject, the RSC Mechanism Inspector and Synthesis Explorer websites are here to help!