Chem 634: Advanced Organic Chemistry— Synthesis and Reactivity
Fall 2005


Lecture Tuesdays 7PM–10PM in Alison Hall Rm 236

Professor Joseph M. Fox
272 Brown Labs
302-831-0191
jmfox@udel.edu

Office hours: Tuesdays, 6-7 pm; or by appointment (contact by email)
 

Note:  This syllabus will be updated weekly— check it frequently.  This is where you will get new problem sets, answer keys, handouts etc.


New Additions

PS 2 has been posted

A link has been provided for to IUPAC web publication: Basic Terminology of Stereochemistry


Textbooks:

It is not required to purchase a textbook for this course.  All required reading will be assigned as primary literature references, or will be posted as a handout.  However, those pursuing a career in organic chemistry might consider investing in one or more of the following:

• Carey and Sundberg, Advanced Organic Chemistry B

• Richard Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations

• Jerry March, Advanced Organic Chemistry

• Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis

• Eliel and Wilen, Stereochemistry of Organic Compounds

The textbooks above will be available on reserve in the chemistry library.


Models:
A Molecular Model Set is required.


Databases:

 
By the end of this course, everyone will be expected to demonstrate proficient use in the chemical databases listed below.  Each week there will be a question on the problem set that requires you to follow a brief tutorial (see below), and then to use that chemical database to conduct a simple search.

Beilstein Commander, accessible from computers in the chemistry library.  Alternatively, you can download the software and access the database from a campus connection on your own computer.  Note, if you complete the installation but are still unable to access the data base, make sure that the crossfire group name is "uni-del".  You do this from the Commander window: under the pulldown menu "Options", select "Change the group name".  Type "uni-del"

Web of Science is accessible through the web from any campus connection.  No software required.

SciFinder Scholar accessible from computers in the chemistry library.  Alternatively, you can download the software and access the database from a campus connection on your own computer.

Synthesis Reviews is an impressive database of references to over 16,000 reviews pertaining to organic synthesis.  The database was compiled by Prof. Philip Kocienski at Leeds.  The database can be downloaded as a textfile, but it is most useful using the EndNote biblographic management program.  A computer with the EndNote program and the Kocienski database will be made available in the Chemistry Library.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Links and Resources

Chemical Database Searching Tutorials
Handout 1: Science Citation Searching using ISI Web of Science
Handout 2:
Introduction to structure searching on Beilstein Commander
Handout 3: Introduction to substructure searching on Beilstein Commander
Handout 4: Introduction to Reaction searching with substructures on Beilstein commander
Handout 5: Introduction to Reaction searching for functional group tolerance on Beilstein commander
Handout 6: Functional Group mapping using Beilstein

Powerpoint presentations:
IR handout
Mass Spec and UV-Vis handout

Stereochemistry
•IUPAC web publication: Basic Terminology of Stereochemistry
  The definitions used in this glossary are identical to those in the published document, see G.P. Moss Pure and Applied Chemistry, 68, 2193-2222 (1996)


Grading

All exams will be open book, open notes.  The midterm will count for 40% of the total grade, and the final exam will count for 40% of the final grade.   In class presentations on the literature will count toward the remaining 20%.  Molecular models are also allowed during exams.
 

Any requests for regrades must be made in writing. 


Notecards

It is strongly recommended that everyone invest in a set of index cards to keep track of literature references for useful tranformations.  Strategies for keeping track of references will be discussed in class.


Handouts

Handouts/Literature References (pdf files):    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9     
Handouts/Literature References (Word files):    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    
Handouts/Database Searching:    1    2    3    4    5    6     


Problem Sets and Exams
Problem Sets   :    PrePS    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8   
Problem Set Answers:   PrePS   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8
Exams:
1  2
Exam Answers:  1  2

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Reading assignments from the Primary Literature
As a part of the weekly assignments, everyone will provide a brief synopsis (hand drawn structures) of a paper from the primary chemical literature.  At least in the beginning of the course, Organic Letters and Tetrahedron Letters are the most appropriate sources for papers.  In addition to outlining the main idea of the paper, I ask that you make a list at the bottom of "reactions/concepts learned by reading this paper".

In class presentations on the Primary Literature
Every four weeks, each member of the class will present a summary of a paper from the primary literature.  This will be a short 10 minute presentation, using either powerpoint or overheads. 
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Syllabus:

Problem sets will be posted each week by Thursday, and will be due on the following Tuesday.

NOTE: THE FIRST CLASS WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 6TH.  PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS, PLEASE COMPLETE THE POSTED PREPROBLEM SET.  That problem set will be collected during the first class on Sept 6th.

Pre-Problem set posted

Week 1: Sept 6
Topics: Introduction to the course; C-1 homologation; organometallic coupling; 1,2 addition

Week 2: Sept 13
Topics: oxidation; C-2 homologation; enolate alkylation

<>Week 3: Sept 20
Topics: Claisen and Cope Rearrangements
Group 1: in class presentations
 
Week 4: Sept 27

Topics:
2,3 sigmatropic rearrangements, directed reduction, directed epoxidation
Group 2: in class presentations
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Week 5:
October 4
Topics: Reduction continued, aldol
Review for exam 1

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Week 6
: October 11
EXAM 1

Week 7: October 18
Topics: ester formation.  Alkene reactions
Group 3: in class presentations
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Week 8: October 25
Topics: alkene preparation, alkyne preparation and reactions
Group 1: in class presentations

Week 9: Nov 1
Topics: conjugate addition, cyclopropane formation
Group 2: in class presentations


Week 10: November 8
6 membered ring formations
Group 3: in class presentations

<>Week 11: November 15
6 membered ring formations, Diels Alder, electrophilic aromatic substitution
Group 1: in class presentations

Week 12: November 22
7 and larger rings, case studies in synthesis
Group 2: in class presentations

Week 13: November 29
case studies
Group 3: in class preparations

Week 14: December 6

review for final exam

EXAM 2: TBA, during finals week