CHEM2702 Organic Reactions

This topic will present students with the fundamentals of organic chemical synthesis. These are introduced initially by discussing the philosophy behind synthesis, a presentation on the mechanistic approach to understanding organic reactions followed by discussion on the main organic chemical reactions. The main organic reactions include for example; nucleophilic substitution and elimination, anion based chemistry (acetylenic anions, enolates, Grignard and organolithium reagents), addition reactions, and both electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. In addition students will learn about the stereochemical aspects of organic molecules and how these are influenced by organic reactions.

This topic aims to provide students with an appreciation of the basic reactions encountered in organic chemistry. This topic will teach students why and how organic reactions are carried out as well as an understanding of the underlying mechanism of the main reactions. Further, students will gain an appreciation of the factors affecting the main organic chemical reactions as well as stereochemical and regiochemical characteristics for these reactions. In addition students will be trained to carry out reactions safely and independently in a laboratory and to analyse and characterise the materials produced.

1. Demonstrate an understanding about why basic organic reactions occur
2. Predict and rationalise mechanistically the products from a variety of chemical reaction conditions, and factors that may influence them
3. Carry out basic organic chemistry reactions safely and independently in a laboratory and examine and characterise the compounds produced
4. Evaluate and present results from laboratory work in written form