Physical Organic Chemistry

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1

52548POC6Y

Owner Master Chemistry (joint degree)
Coordinator dr. T.A. Hamlin
Part of Master Chemistry (joint degree), track Molecular Sciences, Master Chemistry (joint degree), track Chemistry of Life, year 1
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Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

Advanced organic chemistry course centered around chemical bonding, stereochemical principles, conformational and stereo-electronic effects, isotope effects, reaction mechanisms, nucleophilic substitutions, eliminations, aromaticity, carbocations, carbanions, radicals, pericyclic reactions, and acid-base catalysis. These structural and mechanistic concepts are essential in organic synthesis.

Study materials

Literature

  • Modern Physical Organic Chemistry, E.V. Anslyn & D.A. Dougherty, University Science Books, 2006

     

    Support: Advanced Organic Chemistry Part A: Structure and Mechanisms, F.A. Carey, R.J. Sundberg (CS)

Objectives

  • The student will be introduced to the fundamental principles of physical organic chemistry that dictate the reactivity of molecules.
  • The student will develop a deep understanding of how rates of reactions can be altered and the role of catalysts in accelerating reactions.
  • The student will be exposed to foundational concepts such as acid/base catalysis, carbocation/carbanion chemistry, chemical bonding, stereochemistry, isotope effects, reaction mechanisms, aromaticity, and various types of organic reactions like nucleophilic substitutions/eliminations and pericyclic reactions.
  • The student will be equipped with skills to explore a wide range of fields, spanning the range from fundamental organic reactions to supramolecular (biomolecular) interactions and recognition.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Self-study

tutorial

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Zelfstudie

168

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

1 (100%)

Tentamen

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

Weeks Subjects tuesdaylecture Subjects fridaylecture Subjects Tutorial
36  Chapter 1 Molecular Structure and Bonding 1.1-1.4  Chapter 1 Molecular Structure and Bonding 1.2 + 1.3 continue

Tutorials Ch1: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,12,19,21,23,24,25,29,32,34,35
37  Chapter 2 Strain and Stability 2.1-2.5

Chapters 3 and 4: (Bio)molecular Recognition and Intermolecular Interactions: 3.2.3-3.2.5 + 4.2 + 4.3

Tutorials Ch2: 1,3,5,6,9,10,11,13,15,16,20,24,25,26,31,34,37,38,39, 44,45,47,50
38

Chapter 2 Strain and Stability: 2.4 in detail

Chapter 5 Acid-Base Chemistry: 5.1-5.4, 5.6

Tutorials Ch3: 9,12,13,17,18,19,20,25

Tutorials Ch4: 3,9,10,13,17,18

Tutorials Ch5: 4,8,9,11,14,18,21 + Advanced Topic 1 Questions (see Canvas)
39  Chapter 6 Stereochemistry 6.1-6.5  Chapter 7 Kinetics, Energy Surfaces 7.1-7.4,7.7-7.8

Tutorials Ch6: 1,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,12,14,16,17,20,22,24,28,32,36,37,38

Tutorials Ch7: 1,2,5,8,11,13,15,17,18,22,23,24
40  Chapter 8 Hammett, Isotopes, Solvents, Aromaticity 8.1, CS:3.8,9  Chapter 8 Hammett, Isotopes, Solvents, Aromaticity 8.2-8.8

Tutorials Ch8: 11,12,14,15,17,18,19, 22, 24, 25, Aromaticity problems + Advanced Topic 2 Questions (see Canvas)
41  Chapter 11 Carbocations, Carbanions 11.1-11.2 + 11.5

Chapter 15 Thermal Pericyclic Reactions: 15.1-3 (no 2.1-2),15.6

Tutorials Ch11: Carbocation/Carbanion problems + Advanced Topic 3 Questions (see Canvas)

Tutorials Ch15: 2,27 + Pericyclic reaction problem 5
42

Chapter 15 Thermal Pericyclic Reactions: 15.2 (no 2.1-2),15.4-15.5

Tutorials Ch15: 6,13,15,19,23,24,25,26,31,33 + Pericyclic reaction problems (see Canvas)

 Tutorial: Evaluation of a previous exam
43 Exam     

Contact information

Coordinator

  • dr. T.A. Hamlin

Staff