KEMS541 Advanced Course in Organic Chemistry (6 cr)
Learning outcomes
The goal of the course is to lay foundations for synthetic, structural and strategic thinking in organic chemistry based on structure-reactivity relationships.
Study methods
There are five problem sets (i.e. "Home exercises", 50% of credit) and two literature essays, each 25% of the total credit. The essay topics will also be discussed in two literature seminars.
Alternatively, the course credits can also be obtained via a final exam, but this option is only recommended if the primary method (essays + problem sets) is not possible.
Content
Nucleophiles and electrophiles, carbonyl chemistry (revision), conformational analysis, nucleophilic and electrophilic reactivity in saturated and unsaturated systems, prediction of selectivity, enolate chemistry and conjugate additions, radical chemistry, pericyclic reactions, transition metal-catalyzed reactions in e.g. coupling reactions.
Further information
Autumn course, periods 1 and 2.
Materials
Lecture notes (pdf) and Clayden, Warren, Wothers: Organic Chemistry (2nd ed.), OUP 2012
Literature:
| ISBN-number | Author, year of publication, title, publisher |
|---|---|
| 9780199270293 | Clayden, Greeves, Wothers: Organic Chemistry (2nd ed.), Oxford Univ Press 2012. |
Assessment criteria
Problem sets, e-problems and the exam will be graded and the grade will be based on the total score acquired. Alternatively, the grade can be based on an exam alone.
The problems and the exam will evaluate the students' ability to understand functional group reactivity, structural effects on reactivity and conformational analysis, mechanistic thinking, and reaction mechanisms.
Assessment criteria for each grade
A passing grade (1/5) requires 50% of the overall score. Higher grades require higher scores; a linear grading will be used, with a grade 5/5 requiring 85% of the overall score.
Prerequisites
B.Sc. level courses in organic chemistry