Organic Structure and Reactivity Premaster Course

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

The course consists of 7 two-hour lectures and covers the most important concepts and knowledge concerning basic organic chemistry. 

Organic chemistry is at the heart of the molecular sciences. The molecules of nature, materials, drugs and foods are mainly built of carbon as the most important skeletal element. So, every chemist obtaining a University Master certificate may be expected to master the foundations of organic chemistry. In seven lectures accompanied by tutorials the main topics will be taught starting from the concept of hybridization to bond polarity, acids and bases, substitution and elimination reactions, electrophilic aromatic substitution, carbonyl chemistry and amines and heterocycles.

The following chapters from 'Organic Chemistry' by John McMurry (free download: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1498) will be studied:

First and foremost: Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 15 and 22 must be consulted in self-study (!).

lecture 1 Chapter 1: Structure and bonding.

lecture 2 Chapter 2: Polar covalent bonds: acids and bases.

Lecture 3  Chapter 11: Reactions of alkyl halides.

Lecture 4 Chapter 16: Chemistry of benzenes.

Lecture 5 Chapter 21: Carboxylic acid derivatives.

Lecture 6 Chapter 23: Carbonyl condensation reactions.

Lecture 7 Chapter 24: Amines and heterocycles.

Study materials

Literature

• 'Organic Chemistry' by John McMurry (free download: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1498)

Objectives

• The student recognises several types of covalent (polar/apolar) and non-covalent bonds (H-bond, vd Waals, polar, ionic) in/between organic molecules.
• The student can recognise the hybridisation state and describe the type of orbital involved in covalent and non-covalent binding of atoms in an organic molecules.
• The student recognises the spatial structure of organic molecules and name these (stereochemistry/conformations).
• The student recognises several functional groups, knows their names and understands their physical properties.
• The student is able to disciminate between nucleo- and electrophiles and applies this into reaction mechanisms using curly arrows.
• The student is able to discriminate between electronic effects (inductive/conjugation) and apply their influence on the outcome of reactions.
• The student recognises conjugation and/or aromaticity explain the properties of molecules resulting from this.
• The student recognises basic and acidic molecules and is able to put them in the right order of strength.
• The student is able to draw the tautomeric structures of organic molecules and predict, based on steric and electronic parameters, their relative stabilities.
• The student is able to discriminate between the different mechanisms of aromatic substitution reactions and further application to the synthesis of new molecules.
• The student understands several reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives
• The student understands the reactivity of enolate anions in the formation of C-C bonds in substitution and addition reactions and further application to the synthesis of new molecules
• The student understands the chemo-, regio-, and (dia)stereoselectivity of some reactions.
• The student understands the difference between an intermediate and a transition state.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study

After each lecture the student has to study the topic from the book at home for a deep understanding. The tutorial sessions are essential to obtain the skills in order to pass the exam. Solving organic chemistry problem requires intensive training.

Learning activities

Assessment

Inspection of assessed work

After the grades are announced, a day will be set to check the exam.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Important note: It is expected that you have a previous knowledge in organic chemistry as we will cover all topics of basic organic chemistry in this 3EC course.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. J.H. van Maarseveen