Organic Chemistry [MCHIB107]

Learning outcomes

The organic chemistry course ains to give a first overview of :
- the electronic structure and stereochemical features of organic molecules;
- a structure-based approach to the physicochemical properties of organic molecules;
- a thermodynamic and kinetic study of organic reactions and reactive intermediates;
- a summary of basic ionic reaction mechanisms and the reactivity of the most common functional groups.

Objectives

This introductory organic chemistry course aims to provide students to acquire a basic knowledge of the structural description of organic molecules, and gives them an overview of the main organic reaction mechanism (substitution, addition, elimination). A detailed enough description of structure is given for the students to be able to understand and predict physicochemical properties and basic reactivity of the most common organic funcational groups.

Content

The course tackles three main aspects of organic chemistry. First, the structure of organic molecules is described by means of the valence bond (VB) theory. Aspects such as bond polarisation and resonance will be discussed. Basic elements of static stereochemistry will be presented. Organic nomenclature complements these fundamental aspects. Furthermore, the basic mechanisms in organic chemistry will be studied, mainly from the point of view of the available thermodynamic and kinetic data. These aspects will also covers the concepts of acidity and basicity as well as the factors that govern the stability of the main reactive intermediates (carbocations, carbanions and radicals). Finally, the big classes of organic reaction mechanisms will be presented (eliminations, electrophilic and nucleophilic additions, electrohpilic and nucleophilic substitutions), and based upon these mechanisms, the reactivity of the main organic functional groups will be discussed. Organic reactivity is extrapolated to biological molecules and their interactions that can lead to the development of pharmaceutical compounds will be pinpointed.

Table of contents

1. Electronic structure and covalent bonds
2. Nomenclature of organic compounds
3. Structure and physical properties of molecules
4. Alkenes and alkynes
5. Reactions of alkenes and alkynes
6. Isomerism and stereochemistry
7. Reactions of alcanes
8. Substitution and elimination reactions of halides
9. Reactions of alcohols, ethers and epoxides
10. Delocalised electrons: influence on stability, reactivity and pKa
11. Aromaticity
12. Carbonyl compounds I
13. Carbonyl compounds II
14. Carbonyl compounds III
15. Amino-acids, petides and proteins
16. Organic chemistry of pharmaceutical drugs

Exercises description

The organic chemistry lectures are paired with 7 tutorials. The latter are closely related to the lectures and complement and enhance the understanding of the concepts presented in the lectures.