[alexcve]

Next year i'm applying to med school and the most common type of question  in the org  chem exam is to do a chain of conversions. For example  you start with Methane and you have to convert it to Ethane and then convert the Ethane to something else. (  For example to get to Ethane you  first react the methane with cl2 and then do a Wurtz synthesis and describe the process ).
I however struggle with some that are quite tricky. For example how to get from ethanal to methanal or ethanal to propane are quite hard to me and i don't even know where to begin. Just memorizing every reaction is not possible and i'm missing some concepts. Thanks in advance!

[Hunter2]

For this you have to study organic chemistry first. Probably need 2 year for this.
For your question check reaction like Hoffmann, Curtius, Lossen, reaction for shorten C chain..
Also Grignard to extend C chain.

[alexcve]

i've been studying for awhile now and i  understand most of them, but i struggle with some of the most complex ones. Thanks for the recommendations!

[rolnor]

Its a bit stupid with these examples, few use Wurtz coupling today and nobody makes these molecules this way, it could be better with up-to-date reactions and useful examples