Module description
This module builds upon the entry-level knowledge of students covered in A-Level Chemistry. It introduces basic chemical concepts within the context of Organic Chemistry, and starts to develop the more specialist knowledge of organic reactions required for later modules. The latter will be further developed in the Organic Chemistry 2 module.
The module will include:
1. General concepts in organic chemistry for predicting atom and electronic structure of molecules, stability, reactivity and molecular properties (bond strength, pH etc.)
2. General concepts and mechanisms underlying organic reactions and ability to draw the mechanism for a given reaction or to give reagents required for an organic reaction.
Throughout the course examples will be provided to link the underlying concepts and reactions with biological (e.g. metabolism) and pharmaceutical design (e.g. drugs).
Assessment details
Written examinations and coursework.
| Type |
Weighting |
|
| Exam |
70% |
|
| MCQ |
30% |
As the final exam for this module takes place in the May exam session, this module is only open to full-year students.
Educational aims & objectives
The module is the first semester of an introduction to Organic Chemistry – structure, reactivity and underlying logic. The students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of organic molecular structure and how this structure relates to how the molecules react in a variety of conditions. An underlying theme will be developing the logical thought processes that Organic Chemists routinely use.
This module builds upon the entry-level knowledge of students covered in A-Level Chemistry. It introduces basic chemical concepts within the context of Organic Chemistry, and starts to develop the more specialist knowledge of organic reactions required for later modules. The latter will be further developed in the Organic Chemistry 2 module.
The students will acquire a broad understanding of the knowledge base in Organic Chemistry and its terminology or discourse. They will operate in a range of varied but predictable contexts that require the use of a specified range of techniques and information sources. The student will be required to identify principles and concepts underlying theoretical frameworks for predicting molecular structure, stability, reactivity and other properties (e.g. bond strength, pKa etc.). The student will take responsibility for the nature and quality of outputs through defined problem classes.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module, the student should be able to:
- Understand the basics of structure, bonding and nomenclature of organic molecules.
- Identify and explain the relationship between structure and reactivity.
- Understand and explain the basics of reaction mechanisms.
- Understand the basic concepts of organic synthesis and synthesis design.
- Students should be able to propose a reaction scheme for synthesising a simple compound and suggest a mechanism using “curly arrow notation”.
- Use mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques to identify the structures of simple organic compounds.
Workshops will be interspersed with lectures as necessary to apply concepts and theories covered in lectures to solve specific chemical problems and improve understanding.
Indicative Syllabus
- Introduction to organic chemistry, bonding, hybridization, resonance and delocalization.
- Functionality, nomenclature, structure of functional groups affecting their reactivity.
- Conformation of straight chain alkanes, structural isomers.
- Configuration, chirality, enantiomers/diastereomers, Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules (R/S) and Fischer/Newman projections.
- Hydrocarbon rings, strain energy and effect of substitution, chair and boat cyclohexane, conjugation and role of cyclization in benzene aromaticity.
- Acids and bases, pKa, nucleophiles and electrophiles, introduction to organic redox reactions.
- Introduction to organic reaction mechanisms and basic thermodynamics & kinetics of reactions: enthalpy, entropy, Gibb’s free energy, reaction coordinate diagrams.
- SN2 and E2 reactions, primary halide synthesis, stereochemistry and mechanism in SN2 and E2.
- SN1 and E1 reactions, simple syntheses and stereochemical consequences in elimination reactions.
- UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for the characterisation of organic molecules.
Teaching pattern
1 hour lecture, 20 hours self directed study, 29 hours skills sessions, 9 hours workshops, 3 hours revision session