610-321 Organic Chemistry IIIB

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Chemistry 610-220 or 610-221. Concurrent enrolment in 610-325 is strongly recommended.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Upon completion of 610-321 students should comprehend the main types of chemical transformations involved in the synthesis of organic compounds; the range of agents available to effect these transformations; the different types of stereochemical complexity of organic compounds; factors which influence stereochemical outcome; the procedures for determination of the structures of organic compounds by spectroscopic and chemical techniques; the theoretical basis of organic chemical reactions; and the concept of reaction mechanisms and the methods used to delineate these mechanisms.

Students should also appreciate the importance of rational, critical and independent thought in chemical science and in the understanding of organic chemistry.

The subject covers the topics pericyclic reactions; the chemistry of alkenes; organometallic reactions, enolates, aldol and related reactions, and the Wittig reaction; free-radical chemistry; reductions and rearrangements with emphasis on chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity; applications of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry to the determination of structure; concerted and stepwise processes; detection and identification of intermediates and products; and applications of infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.

Assessment

One 3-hour written examination at the end of semester. Assignments and tests may constitute up to 10% of the final assessment.