The students will have to know the principles of Organic Chemistry as tools for the understanding of structures and properties of the main classes of organic compounds. They will have to develop the ability to understand the reactivity of organic compounds depending from the features of the functional group present, rationalizing the results on the basis of the most common reaction mechanisms.
Course Prerequisites
A good knowledge of the main principles of general chemistry is required.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (6h/week) and tutorials.
Assessment Methods
A final written test consisting in a set of open-ended questions (20-40 depending on their level of difficulty) concerning topics covered during the course.The chance to introduce two ongoing texts (that will be an alternative to the final test) will be discussed each year with the students.
Texts
T.W. Graham Craig B. Fryhle, Chimica Organica, Zanichelli; Brown, Iverson, Anslyn, Foote, Chimica Organica, VI ed., EdiSES. Bruno Botta, Chimica Organica, edi-ermes.
Contents
Electronic structure of atoms. Electronegativity and chemical bonds. Atomic and molecular orbitals. Structure and shape of molecules. Alkanes and cycloalkanes: structure, properties, constitutional isomerism, Newman projections, conformation of cyclohexane and its derivatives. Functional groups and IUPAC nomenclature. Stereochemistry: enantiomers, diastereomers, meso forms, stereocenter configuration. Acidity and basicity. Equilibria and reaction rate. Alkenes: structure, properties, geometric isomerism, electrophilic addition reactions. Alkyl halides: structure, properties, substitution and elimination reactions. Alcohols, ethers, thiols and sulfides: structure and main reactions of alcohols. Benzene and its derivatives: aromaticity, aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction. Aromatic heterocyclic compounds: structure and nomenclature. Aldehydes and ketones: structure, addition reactions of nucleophiles to carbonyl. Carboxylic acids: structure and reactivity. Carboxylic acid derivatives: structure and nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions. Amines: structure and classification, basicity. Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides. Lipids: triglycerides, fatty acids, soaps and detergents. Amino acids: properties and structure. Peptides and proteins. Nucleosides and nucleotides.
