Chem 634: Advanced Organic Chemistry— Synthesis and Reactivity

Spring 2004
Lecture Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30PM 5:45PM in 203 Brown Labs

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:

Final Exam and Answers have been posted. 



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:

• 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


Grading

There will be three exams (each worth 30% of the grade).  All exams will be open book, open notes.  Molecular models are also allowed during exams.

Weekly problem sets will be collected and will count for the remaining 10% of the grade.  

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, Problem Sets, etc

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

Syllabus:
 

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

Handout/Literature references #1 (doc or pdf); Database Handout 1: Science Citation Searching using ISI Web of Science

Tuesday, Feb 10.  Pre-Problem set posted

Thursday, Feb 12.  Problem set #1 posted, due MONDAY at noon.
 

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

Handout/Literature references #2 (pdf and word

Database Handout: Handout 2: Introduction to structure searching on Beilstein Commander

Tuesday, Feb 17.  Answers to PS#1 and answers to preproblem set will be reviewed at the start of class

Thursday, Feb 19.  Problem set #2 posted, due Wed at 5 pm.

Week 3
Topics: C-3 homologation; aldol condensation; functional groups by nucleophilic displacement

Handout/Literature references #3 (pdf and word)

Database Handout: Handout 3: Introduction to substructure searching on Beilstein Commander

Tuesday, Feb 24.  Answers to PS#2 will be reviewed at the start of class

Thursday, Feb 26.  Problem set #3 posted, due Wed at 5 pm.

Week 4
Topics: C>3 homologation; conjugate addition

No Literature references this week

Tuesday, Mar 2.  Answers to PS#3 will be reviewed at the start of class

Thursday, Mar 4Exam 1 practice questions posted

Practice Exam Answers

Week 5
Topics: Exam 1; Alkene preparation

Literature References #4 (pdf and doc)

Database Handout: Handout 4: Introduction to Reaction searching with substructures on Beilstein commander

Tuesday, Mar 9.  EXAM 1, open book

Thursday, Mar 11Exam 1 answers reviewed at start of class.  Problem set #4 posted, due Thursday at NOON

Week 6
Topics: Alkene and alkyne reactions; alkyne preparation

Tuesday, Mar 16.  Answers to PS#4 reviewed at start of class 


SPRING BREAK

Week 7
Topics: Protecting groups; Formation of 3 and 4 membered rings

Handout/Literature references #5 (pdf and doc)

Tuesday, Mar 30.  

Thursday, April 2Problem set #5 posted, due Thursday at Noon

Week 8
Topics:
Retrosynthesis; 5-membered ring formation; stereochemical analysis

Handout/Literature references #6

Tuesday, April 6.  

Thursday, April 7Problem set #6 posted, due Thursday at NOON

Week 9
Topics: 6-membered ring formation; aromatic subsitution; synthons

Tuesday, April 13.  Answers to PS#7 reviewed at start of class

Thursday, Apr 15.  Problem set #8 posted, due MONDAY at NOON


Week 10
Topics: 


Tuesday, April 20.  Answers to PS#8 reviewed at start of class

Thursday, April 22.  Problem set #9 posted, due MONDAY at NOON


Week 11
Topics: 


Tuesday, April 27.  Answers to PS#9 reviewed at start of class

Thursday, April 29Exam 2 practice questions posted


Week 12
Topics:  EXAM 2


Tuesday, May 4.  EXAM 2

Thursday, May 6.  Exam 2 reviewed; Problem set #10 posted, due MONDAY at NOON


Week 13
Topics: 


Tuesday, May 11.  Answers to PS#10 reviewed at start of class

Thursday, May 13.  Exam 3 practice questions posted


Week 14
Topics: 


Tuesday, May 18.  Last class


REVIEW SESSION FOR EXAM 3: TBA

EXAM 3: TBA, during finals week