Course overview
Organic chemistry provides the capabilities to replicate some of nature's most intriguing molecules and develop strategies and technologies to construct compounds that widely influence society. As part of the study of organic chemistry, we ask: how do we elucidate the structure of a molecule? Can we prove a reaction mechanism? How can we explain unusual organic chemical reactions? Can we use our mechanistic understanding to design efficient syntheses of complex organic molecules? This course firstly showcases the application of powerful physical methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, to the structural analysis of organic molecules. Other tools of physical organic chemistry are then introduced to explain how fundamental reaction mechanisms are elucidated. The student's knowledge of simple reaction mechanisms is then extended to help rationalise more complex, multi-step transformations involving unstable intermediates such as carbocations, carbenes and radicals. Finally, this course shows how principles of organic reactivity can be used to design logical syntheses of complex organic compounds using retrosynthetic analysis.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand fundamental principles of spectroscopic methods and apply methodology to interpret spectra for unknown samples in order to determine their structure.
- understand the mechanisms of organic reactions, and apply these transformations to the design and synthesis of complex molecules.
- apply the principles of retrosynthetic analysis to the design of efficient syntheses of organic molecules and understand issues of selectivity (including chemo-, regio-, and steroselectivity) as applied to complex molecule synthesis.
- demonstrate proficiency in undertaking individual and/or team-based laboratory investigations using appropriate apparatus and safe laboratory practices, including the collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of results of an experiment.
- design and plan an investigation by selecting and applying appropriate practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools.