Synthetic chemistry is not really something you want to learn on your own in your basement. You can do it, but you're much much much better off just following real laboratory courses in college. They'll teach you proper lab safety in a safe environment, and the range of reactions you'll be able to perform will be much wider than what you could do in your basement. Most undergrads will perform a Grignard reaction, but I would not advise you do that in your basement.

If you're interested in theory, then it's a whole other thing.

(I'm a chemist.)

I obviously have no idea what can/can't be done at home yet :)

But UCLA is right down the street; I'll see what they have to offer.

Thanks for the tip!

Anything could be done at home, but at what cost (safety + economic)? If you get some lab experience by following courses, you might even land an internship in a synthesis lab if you're lucky :)

Chris Schafmeister here - wow. Well, just make sure you always wear your safety goggles.

Will do, chief! Thanks again for the inspiration.