The module aims at developing the fundamental notions of organic chemistry apprehended in Organic Chemistry 1, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry 2, by the introduction of new subjects or deepening some arguments previously treated in a preliminary way. The module aims at improving the understanding of reaction mechanisms and in making the student able to design a synthesis.
The student will deepen various aspects of organic chemistry not covered in the previous teachings (in particular the formation reactions of C-C bonds, transpositions, the synthesis of cyclic compounds and the chemistry of aromatic compounds), and will be guided to achieve a good understanding retrosynthetic strategies, to design simple syntheses of aliphatic and aromatic derivatives, to interpret the reaction mechanisms and the experimental methodologies to corroborate them.
Students are expected to reach a good familiarity with the main organic reactions (both those already treated in prfevious courses, as well as new reactions explained during this module. The will be brought to understand and to be able to describe reaction mechanisms, without the need to memorize them. Students will be guided to reach a good capacity to understand retrosynthetic strategies, design simple syntheses of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, to interpret reaction mechanisms and the strategies used to corroborate them.
For an optimal fruition of the course, the knowledge of the basic notions of Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 and of the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry is essential.
The module includes mainly frontal lessons, with the prevalent use of slides. However, a set of retrosynthesis exercises will be provided and the students may access a recording of the described solutions of these exercises by the teacher. All lessons and exercise solutions will be in italian.
The module corresponds to 6 credits. The student is expected to spend 48 hours for attending the lessons, about 22 hours to do autonomously the retrosynthesis excercises (also listening to the recordings), and 80 hours for studying the subject of the module.
The slides of the lessons will be available in pdf format on Aulaweb.
For the review / deepening of basic organic chemistry topics, the latest editions of the same texts recommended for the courses of Organic Chemistry I and II can be used; in particular:
-- Brown, Foote, Iverson, Anslyn - Organic Chemistry - EdiSES
-- Bruice - Organic Chemistry - EdiSES
-- Clayden, Greeves, Warren . Chimica Organica, seconda edizione - Piccin
-- Stuart Warren, Paul Wyatt - Organic synthesis - The Disconnection Approach, 2nd Edition - J. Wiley & Sons (2008).
The first three books are available also in english or in other languages.
Ricevimento: The teacher is always present in the Department between 8.00 and 13.00 and 15.00 and 18.30 (except in august). The students can come to speak with him in any moment, unless he is engaged in other isntitutional activities. However, it is highly advised to arrange an appointment by E-mail, in order to be sure to find him free.
From September 29, 2025
The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy
The exam will be written and then oral.
The written exam lasts 120 minutes, that are increased by 30% for students with SLD* or 50% for students with disabilities.* The written exam will have two parts
The latter will not provide a mark. However, the exercise will be discussed during the oral exam. Obviously, if the student does not propose a suitable synthess, this will have an outcome on the oral evauation.
The oral exam will follow the written one, typically on the same very day. The final mark will not necessarly an average between the mark of the written exam and that of the oral one.
If the student fails the oral exam or gives up, he/she will repeat the written exam in a later date.
The oral exam is an interview in front of the commission (of at least 2 persons). The student will necessarily use the blackboard or sheets of paper and be able to draw chemical equations, formulas, and reaction mechanisms.
Important: there will be 7 possibility per year to give the exam. Further dates may be decided, but, if the student has formally attended the module in year 20xx/20xx+1, he/she will be allowed to take part to these additional exams only until the end of febrauary of 20xx+2.
*Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should wr5ite an E-mail both to the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it),the Department’s disability liaison. This E-mail should be better sent 10 days before the exam. If the disability reference person confirms that a valid certification has been provided, students will have an additional time for the written exam (30% more for LSD and 50% for disability): Moreover, the students may use "concept maps". However, concept maps must be preventively examined and approved by the instructor.
During the interview, it is intended to ascertain, through the initial discussion of topics developed in the frontal lectures, the degree of understanding reached by the student as well as his reasoning ability in making connections between different parts of the program and in dealing with case studies related to those expressly treated in the program.
More details on the type of questions and examples of previous writings will be published on aulaweb.
