Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the basic concepts of organic chemistry to students interested in life sciences. Focus will be pointed on the interconnections between the fields of organic chemistry and biomedical disciplines.
Prerequisites
The examination of “General and Inorganic Chemistry” must be passed before that of “Organic Chemistry"
Course unit content
General Aspects <br />
Functional groups of the main organic compounds. The carbon atom as a focal element in organic chemistry. Atomic and molecular orbitals. Relationships between the structure of an organic compound and its physical and chemical behaviour. Configurational and conformational isomerism. Conformational analysis of linear and cyclic alkanes. Constitutional isomerism and stereoisomerism. Chirality, enantiomers, diastereoisomers, meso compounds, geometric isomerism. Thermodynamic and kinetic control of organic reactions. Reaction kinetics, activation energy, catalysis. Reaction mechanisms. Resonance in organic compounds. Radical and ionic reactions. Nucleophilic and electrophilic species. Organic compounds as acids and bases. Monomolecular and bimolecular nucleophilic substitutions at saturated carbons. Monomolecular and bimolecular elimination reactions. Main solvents in organic chemistry. Electrophilic additions to alkenes. Regioselective, stereospecific, and stereoselective organic reactions. Nucleophilic addition to carbon-oxygen double bond. Acyl nucleophilic substitution. Carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Reactions of enolizable compounds. <br />
Aliphatic domain <br />
Structure, nomenclature, natural occurrence, physical properties, reactivity, and synthesis of the following compound classes: alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, diols, ethers, epoxides, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, acyl halides, anhydrides, esters, lactones, amides, lactams., imides, nitriles, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds, amines, organometallic compounds. <br />
Aromatic domain <br />
Aromaticity. Structure, nomenclature, natural occurrence, physical properties, reactivity, and synthesis of the following compound classes: benzene, substituted benzenes and, in particular, phenols, aryl halides, and aromatic amines.
