Organic Chemistry I and laboratory A - L

Module Organic Chemistry I and laboratory (Module 1)

- to introduce the fundamental knowledge for the study of the basic organic molecules in relation to its structure, reactivity, properties;

- to know the main classes of organic molecules;

- to the view of simple organic molecules in three dimensions with an emphasis to their stereochemical properties.

Furthermore, in reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course helps to acquire the following skills:

D1 - Knowledge and understanding: The students will have to demonstrate their mastery of basic knowledge about the organic chemistry. In particular, the students must show their ability to rationalize property-structure correlations of organic molecules

D2 - Ability to apply knowledge: The students will have to show knowledge and understanding of organic reactions required to produce synthetic processes of relatively complex molecules.

D3 - Autonomy of judgment: The students will have to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills. Particularly, the students must show his ability to critical reasoning and their ability to identify the most appropriate chemical reactions aimed to the synthesis of organic molecules.

D4 - Communication skills: The students must be able to communicate clearly with a correct property of language and terminological rigor their conclusions.

D5- Learning skills: The students will have to develop learning skills that will enable them to continue studying in a self-directed or autonomous way.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA

As a guarantee of equal opportunity and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview so as to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs. can also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs)

Lectures (35 hrs) and exercises (15 hrs), chalk and blackboard, and molecular models.

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated to comply with the provided and reported syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should the conditions require it.

Introduction to carbon chemistry. Recalling the concepts of atomic orbitals. Electronic configuration of atoms. Representations of Lewis. The octet rule. The chemical bond. Covalent bonds and the Pauling electronegativity scale. Resonance theory. σ and π bonds. Hybrid orbitals sp3, sp2, sp. Intermolecular interactions. Classification of organic compounds and functional groups. General principles of the IUPAC nomenclature for organic compounds. Graphical representation of molecules.

Reactions in organic chemistry. Chemical bonds cleavage. Classification of carbon and hydrogen atoms in organic molecules. Carbocations, carbanions and alkyl radicals: geometry and stability. Reaction mechanisms, use of curly arrows for their representation. Energy diagrams. Recalling the concepts of acid and basic. Acid-basic reactions and redox reactions of organic compounds. Electrophiles and nucleophiles. Reaction classification: substitution, elimination and addition reactions. Regioselectivity, stereoselectivity, stereospecificity aspects of the reactions in organic chemistry.

Alkanes and cycloalkanes. IUPAC nomenclature. Source and importance of alkanes. Physical and chemical properties. Constitutional isomerism and conformational isomerism in alkanes. Cycloalkanes. Geometric isomerism of cycloalkanes. Reactivity: radical substitution and combustion reaction.

Constitutional isomers and stereoisomers. Constitutional isomerism. Stereoisomerism: conformational and configurational isomerism. Chirality. Asymmetric carbon. Enantiomers. Optical activity. Relative configuration and absolute configuration. Naming enantiomers: the R,S system of nomenclature. Three-dimensional representation of enantiomers. Stereoisomers with two or more asymmetric carbon atoms. Diasteroisomers and meso compounds. Biological importance of chirality. Separation of enantiomers. Geometric isomerism: cis-trans isomers.

Alkenes. Structure and nomenclature. Geometric isomers of alkenes: cis-trans and E-Z nomenclature. Physical properties. Alkenes in nature. Dienes, trienes and polyenes (hint). Electrophilic Addition reactions of conjugated dienes. Methods of preparation of alkenes. Carbon-carbon double bond reactivity: the electrophilic addition reaction in alkenes. The reaction mechanism. The addition of halogenidric acids and regioselectivity. Markovnikov's rule. The addition of water. Transposition of carbocations. The addition of halogens. Halohydrins. Oxidation of alkenes. Reduction of alkenes: catalytic hydrogenation. Cyclic alkenes.

Alkynes. Nomenclature. Triple bond structure. Reactivity. Acidity of a hydrogen bonded to an sp hybridized carbon. The addition reaction in alkynes. Addition of halogenidric acids and halogens. Reduction to alkenes (with Lindlar’s catalyst) and to alkanes.

Aromatic compounds. Structure and properties of benzene. Resonance energy and aromaticity concept. Hückel's rule. Nomenclature of mono-, di- and poly-substituted benzene derivatives. Reactivity of the benzene ring: the general mechanism for electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. Halogenation; nitration; sulfonation; Friedel & Crafts alkylation, Friedel & Crafts acylation. Reaction of substituents on benzene. The effect of substituents on reactivity and orientation.

Alkyl and aryl halides. Structure and nomenclature. Preparation methods. Reactions of alkyl halides. Aliphatic nucleophilic substitution: the SN1 and SN2 mechanisms: role of substrate, leaving group, solvent and nucleophile. The elimination reaction (β-elimination): the mechanisms E1 and E2. The stereochemistry of substitution and elimination reactions. Competition between substitution and elimination reactions. Reaction with magnesium or lithium: formation of organometallic compounds. Grignard reagents.

Alcohols. Structure, nomenclature and classification of alcohols. Physical properties: the hydrogen bond. Preparation methods. Diols and glycols (hints). Alcohol group reactivity. Salt formation; acid and basic properties. Reaction with metals. Formation of alkyl halides: reactions with halogenidric acids (SN2 and SN1). Reaction with SOCl2 and PBr3. Alkenes formation: acid-catalyzed dehydration (E1 and E2). Regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. Oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols. Formation of semi-acetals and acetals. Ethers, epoxides, thiols and sulphides (hints).

Phenols. Acidity of phenols. Kolbe carboxylation of phenols. Benzyl carbon: outline of benzyl carbon reactions. Oxidation of the alkyl chains linked to benzene.

Aldehydes and ketones. Structure. Nomenclature. Preparation methods. Chemical and physical properties of the carbonyl group. Reactivity. Nucleophilic addition reactions: addition of alcohols, water, Grignard reagents, HCN. Addition of primary amines: formation of Schiff bases. Oxidation. Reduction of carbonyl compounds. Keto-Enol tautomerism.

Carboxylic acids. Structure and nomenclature. Physical properties. Preparation methods. Acidity. Effect of substituents on acidity in aliphatic acids; salts and soaps formation. Reactions of carboxylic acids. Reduction with LiAlH4: formation of primary alcohols. Decarboxylation. Fischer esterification. Reaction with diazomethane: formation of methyl esters. Reaction with thionyl chloride: formation of acyl chlorides.

Functional derivatives of carboxylic acids. Acyl halides, esters, anhydrides, amides, nitriles: structure and nomenclature. Reactivity. Nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction. Addition of Grignard reagents to esters. Hydrolysis reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives. Reduction reactions.

Amines. Structure and nomenclature. Physical properties. Basicity. Preparation methods. Reactivity. Amine reactions with nitrous acid. Reactions of diazonium salts. Diazo-coupling. Azo dyes. Hofmann’s Elimination. Cope’s Elimination.

1) W.H. Brown – B.L. Iverson – E.V. Anslyn – C.S. Foote - “Chimica Organica”, with molecular models - V Edizione EdiSES

2) P. Bruice - "Chimica Organica - with molecular models- III Edizione EdiSES

Oral examination, about 20 minutes. This will begin with a question regarding the writing of a compound structure of known IUPAC name. The examination will go on describing chemistry behavior and stereochemistry aspect of compounds.

The test will be excellent (30-30 with laude) when the student will show a very good knowledge of items, very good analytics ability, and will be able to apply its knowledge for resolving problems. 

The test will be very good (26-29) when the student will show a good knowledge of items, good analytics ability, and will be enough able to apply its knowledge for resolving problems. 

The test will be good (24-25) when the student will show a good knowledge of principal items, good analytics ability, and will be able to apply, when helped, its knowledge for resolving problems. 

The test will be satisfactory (21-23) when the student will show a satisfactory knowledge of principal items, enough analytics ability, and will be able to apply, when helped, its knowledge for resolving simply problems. 

The test will be enough (18-20) when the student will show a enough knowledge of principal items, scarce analytics ability, and will be not much able to apply its knowledge for resolving problems.

 The test will be inadequate when the student will show scarce and not acceptable knowledge of principal items.