Best chemistry advice I have ever heard. I love finding a patent which is related to a synthesis I am interested in because: a) patents provide background information in laymans terms, b) patents arent written like scientific journals, where the target reader is a colleague scientist, they are written for someone "skilled in the art" which generally means someone who has taken a chemistry class or two. c) patents have "expiremental" sections where the synthesis is written out for you in a concise step but step procedure, in a way which is easy to read quickly.