Overview
An introduction to the basic principles of organic chemistry with emphasis on bonding, stereochemistry, reaction intermediates and reaction mechanisms, and structure-reactivity correlations. Intended for students in biological and life sciences. Students in chemistry or biochemistry programs should not enrol in this course.
Learning Outcomes
Textbook sections covered
| A. What is an Organic Molecule? | |
| 1.1-1.8 | Lewis Structures (review) |
| 1.17 | Structural Formulas |
| 1.9-1.15 | Molecular Geometry: Quantum Mechanical Model (review) |
| 2.1-2.2 | Hydrocarbons ("the skeleton") |
| 2.3-2.4 | Polar and Non-Polar Compounds |
| 2.5-2.12 | Functional Groups ("the organs") |
| 2.13-2.15 | Physical Properties and Intermolecular Forces |
| B. Organic Reactions: General Principles | |
| 3.1 | Organic Reaction Mechanisms |
| 3.2-3.15 | Acid-Base Reactions |
| C. Stereochemistry I: Conformational Analysis | |
| 4.1-4.2, 4.7-4.9 | Conformational Analysis of Alkanes |
| 4.10-4.15 | Conformational Analysis of Cycloalkanes |
| D. Stereochemistry II: Chirality | |
| 5.1 | Isomerism |
| 5.2-5.6 | Chirality and Enantiomers |
| 5.7, 7.2 | Nomenclature: R/S and E/Z systems |
| 5.8-5.9 | Optical Activity |
| 5.11-5.14 | More than One Stereocenter: Enantiomers and Diastereomers |
| 5.15-5.18 | More and Chirality: Separation of Enantiomers |
| E. How to Make Organic Molecules? Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions | |
| 6.1-6.4 | Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions |
| 6.5-6.8 | The Mechanism of SN2 Reactions |
| 6.9-6.12 | The Mechanism of SN1 Reactions |
| 6.13 | SN1 vs. SN2 |
| 6.14, 7.10-7.12 | Functional Group Transformations via Substitution |
| E. How to Make Organic Molecules? Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination Reactions (continued) | |
| 6.15-6.17 | Elimination Reactions: E1 & E2 |
| 6.18-6.19 | Substitution vs. Elimination |
| 7.3-7.8 | Making Alkenes via Elimination Reactions |
| 7.9 | Making Alkynes via Elimination Reactions |
| 11.14 | SN1 and SN2 Reactions with Epoxides |
| F. Addition to Alkenes and Alkynes; Alcohols and Ethers | |
| 7.13-7.14 | Addition to Alkenes: Hydrogenation |
| 8.1-8.6 | Addition to Alkenes: Markonikov's Rule |
| 8.7-8.11 | Hydroboration-Oxidation: Anti-Markovnikov syn Hydration |
| 8.12-8.14, 8.18-8.19 | Electrophilic Addition of Halogens to Alkenes and Alkynes |
| 8.16-8.18, 8.20, 11.13 | Oxidation of Alkenes and Alkynes, Alkene Epoxidation |
| 11.4-11.12 | Alcohols and Ethers: Reactivity and Synthesis |
Terms
Evaluation
Textbook and Materials
Time Commitment
Testimonials
"This is the best course I've taken online, even though it has been the most challenging. The reasons is the amount of attention given and assistance provided. Interaction makes for a great learning environment. It's difficult to have this level of interaction with an online course, but Dr. Carran and his TAs are incredible at providing a positive learning environment."
- Course evaluation, CHEM 281: General Organic Chemistry I (2014)
Additional Information
NOTE: Molecular model set $25.