ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Syllabus for Organic Chemistry

Course Description: These courses study the chemistry of carbon compounds and their
properties, structures and reactions. It emphasizes the study of the principle classes of aliphatic
and aromatic compounds, which in conjunction with selected experiments, gives an
understanding of the mechanisms of organic reactions.

Course Goals

At the end of the course each student should be able to:

1. discuss the bonding properties of carbon which cause it to be present in such a large number
and variety of important compounds.

2. appreciate the use of theories (models) of varying complexity to rationalize chemical structure
and reactivity.

3. explain the relationship between structure and physical and chemical properties and to make
predictions concerning these properties.

4. explain several ways in which the vast amount of information in the field of organic chemistry
may be organized.

5. think creatively about synthesis (of ideas as well as compounds).

6. explain the important role of organic chemistry in life, both biological and economical.

7. attack problems in a systematic, logical manner.

8. explain the relationship of chemistry in general and organic in specific to the rest of science.

Course Content

I. Chemical Bonding and Structure

II. Alkanes

III. Acids and bases

IV. Introduction to alkenes

V. Addition reactions of alkenes

VI. Introduction to stereochemistry

VII. Cyclic compounds. Stereochemistry of reactions.

VIII. Introduction to alkyl halides, alcohols, ethers, thiols and sulfides

IX. Chemistry of alkyl halides

X. Chemistry of alcohols, glycols and thiols

XI. Chemistry of ethers, epoxides and sulfides

XII. Infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry

XIII. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

XIV. Chemistry of alkynes

XV. Dienes, resonance and aromaticity

XVI. Chemistry of benzene and its derivatives

XVII. Allylic and benzylic reactivity

XVIII. Chemistry of aryl halides, vinylic halides and phenols

XIX. Chemistry of aldehydes and ketones

XX. Chemistry of carboxylic acids

XXI. Chemistry of carboxylic acid derivatives

XXII. Chemistry of enolate ions, enols and unsaturated carbonyl compounds

XXIII. Chemistry of amines

XXIV. Carbohydrates

XXV. Amino acids