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CH10135: Fundamentals of organic chemistry

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Chemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 12
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 80%, MC 20%, OT 0%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • S1 MCQ Exam (Paper B) (MC 20%)
  • S1 Mock Exam (Paper A) (OT 0%)
  • S2 EXAM (EX 80%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: CH10135 EXAM (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: While taking this unit you must take CH10133 and take CH10137 and in taking this unit you cannot take CH10136
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To introduce the basic concepts upon which the understanding of organic chemistry depends, including structure, bonding and mechanism (arrow pushing) in the context of key reactions of organic chemistry. To build upon these basics to develop the concepts and knowledge essential to a sound understanding of modern organic chemistry, including the characteristic properties of organic functional groups (FGs), their interconversions, and their spectroscopic identification.

Learning Outcomes:
After studying this unit, students should be able to:
* Describe the structure and bonding of simple organic molecules in order to explain their chemical behaviour.
* Apply nomenclature, notation and diagrams to describe structures and reactions.
* Describe and explain the general properties, reactions, mechanisms and methods of synthesis for monofunctionalized aliphatic and aromatic compounds including a range of transformations that can be used to functionalise an aromatic ring.
* Describe and explain the mechanisms of nucleophilic aliphatic substitution and elimination reactions and of electrophilic addition to alkenes.
* Describe and explain the mechanisms of nucleophilic addition and substitution reactions of the carbonyl group and condensation reactions.
* Explain the stability of aromatic compounds and compare their reactivity with that of alkenes and carbonyls and how this affects their reactivity.
* Apply the methodology of FG interconversions in the synthesis of academically and commercially important target molecules.
* Select appropriate techniques (IR, NMR and UV and mass spectroscopy) to identify organic compounds in a range of situations.
* Solve characterisation problems in organic spectroscopy.

Skills:
Problem solving (T, F, A); Oral communication (F).

Content:
a) Lewis structures, resonance, orbitals and hybridisation, conjugation, hyperconjugation. Conformation and configuration; enantiomers, diastereomers. Acids and bases. Solvation. Stability and equilibrium. Kinetics and reaction energy profiles.
b) Characteristic reactions of alkenes and haloalkanes: mechanisms for electrophilic addition to alkenes; aliphatic nucleophilic substitution; elimination.
c) Properties, synthesis and interconversion reactions of alcohols, ethers, amines, ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids with their derivatives. Mechanism and applications in synthesis.
d) Similarities and differences between aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Introduction to aromaticity. Hückel's rule. Electrophilic aromatic substitution.
e) Nucleophilic attack on aromatic rings. Heteroaromatics. Oxidation and reduction reactions. Applications in synthesis.
a) IR spectra of functional group containing compounds. Introduction to mass spectrometry. Origins and applications of proton and carbon NMR spectra. Elucidating structures from spectra.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

CH10135 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Chemistry
  • USCH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry (Year 1)
  • USCH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFM02 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry (Year 1)
  • USCH-AAM03 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFB07 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 1)
  • USCH-AAB08 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFM05 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 1)
  • USCH-AAM06 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKB08 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Industrial Placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKM03 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with Industrial Placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFB09 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Education (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Industrial Placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKM02 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry with Industrial Placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management (Year 1)
  • USCH-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFM07 : MSci(Hons) Chemistry with Management (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Industrial Placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKM07 : MSci(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Industrial Placement (Year 1)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.