The course builds upon and provides an in-depth study of the concepts covered in the Organic Chemistry I course. The topics covered enable you to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry. Furthermore, they are chosen mainly to prepare for subsequent courses, such as Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
In-depth study of the reactivity of organic molecules through the study of difunctional compounds. Expansion of carbon-carbon bond formation reactions with particular attention to the construction of cyclic systems. Introduction to natural and heterocyclic organic substances.
The Organic Chemistry II course aims to provide more advanced concepts of the subject, compared to those learned in the previous Organic Chemistry I course. At the end of the lessons, the student will have acquired theoretical knowledge of the structure and reactivity of bifunctional compounds, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and heterocyclic compounds (both aromatic and non-aromatic). He/she will also have explored the fundamental strategies for forming carbon-carbon bonds. This knowledge is fundamental for future studies in the fields of biochemical and pharmaceutical chemistry. Specifically, the student will be able to: • know the main classes of synthetic and natural organic compounds; • apply the fundamental rules of the IUPAC nomenclature, with an introduction to the heterocycle compounds; • apply basic stereochemical knowledge also to more complex systems; • think critically to apply the reactions studied to simple synthetic sequences for the production of required molecules, arguing the choices.
Basic knowledge of the main topics of organic chemistry I.
The course comprises three two-hour weekly lectures, during which students are taught all the key concepts related to the organic chemistry teaching program. Teaching materials to support the lessons (presentations, exercises, and in-depth articles) are provided to students through the AulaWeb platform. Fundamental texts are recommended for studying theory and for completing the exercises. However, part of the lesson is conducted on the blackboard, utilising digital media and molecular models to educate students in the two- and three-dimensional design of molecules and in the execution of chemical reactions with their respective mechanisms. To face dynamic frontal lessons, students must actively participate by answering questions and completing exercises individually or in groups. Quizzes and exercises will be available on the AulaWeb platform to keep the study updated, which allows a profitable accompaniment of the lessons throughout the teaching period of organic chemistry.
Activities are planned to promote the ability to peer-review and self-evaluate papers, fostering the development of the ability to learn to learn (at a basic level). The production of multimedia products is encouraged to develop functional alphabetic skills that enable students to seek and process information, present, communicate, and argue theories and practical concepts in both oral and written forms (basic level).
Tips on how to study:
1) keep the study of the weekly topics updated, never let them accumulate;
2) study the material in small teaching units and make sure you understand each new section before moving on to the next;
3) solve all the problems of the chapter;
4) write during the study in a theory and exercise notebook;
5) learn by teaching and explaining (study better in a group);
6) use molecular models during the study.
Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department ( Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it ) before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific learning methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes. VERY IMPORTANT: any request for compensatory tools and adaptations in the exam MUST be done within 10 working days before the date of the exam according to the instructions that can be found at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni
1. ANALYSIS OF THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF FUNCTIONAL AND BIFUNCTIONAL COMPOUNDS (30 hours)
A1 Polycyclic and polyunsaturated systems and dicarboxylic acids
A1.1 Conformations of cycloalkanes and bicycloalkanes
A1.2 Dienes
A1.3 Dicarboxylic acids
A1.4 Polycyclic aromatic systems
A1.5 Biaryl systems
A2.1 Derivatives with two oxygen functions or with one oxygen function and one unsaturation
A2.2 1,3-oxygenated compounds
A2.3 1,2-oxygenated compounds
• A3 Radical reactions, phenols, quinones
2. HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (18 hours).
B1 Classification and nomenclature of heterocyclic compounds
B2 Electron-rich aromatic heterocycles
· B2.1 General characteristics
· B2.2 Synthesis and reactivity of pyrrole, furan, thiophene and related benzocondensed derivatives
B3 Electron-poor aromatic heterocycles
· B3.1 General characteristics
· B3.2 Synthesis and reactivity of pyridine, quinoline and isoquinoline, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyridazine
B4 Aromatic pentaatomic heterocycles with two heteroatoms
· B4.1 General characteristics
· B4.2 Synthesis and reactivity of imidazole, oxazole, isoxazole.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend lectures and in-class exercises. Teaching materials are available on Aulaweb.
The following textbooks may be useful:
Ricevimento: By appointment only (in person at DIFAR – Viale Cembrano, 4 or online via Teams). Please contact: omar.ginoblepandoli@unige.it
Lectures will begin as indicated in the academic calendar. Updates will also be posted on Aulaweb.
Class Schedule: The timetable for this course is available via the Portale EasyAcademy, or the MyUniGe app.
Written and oral. In the written test, within three hours, the student is required to identify reagents and products for a single or multi-stage organic synthesis, propose a reaction mechanism, assign the stereochemistry, and provide the correct nomenclature of reagents and products. The subsequent oral test typically begins with a discussion of the written test, followed by the exposition of theoretical concepts in organic chemistry, and includes exercises on the board.
During the course, an additional (optional) individual or group activity will be required to produce a video (maximum 10-12 minutes) on a topic covered in the classroom. Through the evaluation of the video, the transversal skills (communicative, functional, and social) of the student or the work group will be determined. The videos will be peer-evaluated through an evaluation rubric that will allow them to delve deeper into topics covered by other students.
The written exam will include theoretical questions and organic chemistry exercises, to be completed within a three-hour time frame. The oral exam requires the student to be able to answer theoretical questions and solve exercises, through which it will be possible to evaluate the knowledge of the content, quality, and organisation of the presentation. The control tools provided in the teaching and examination methods, which accompany the teaching-learning process, aim to assess the students' levels of knowledge, skills, and competencies.
As the course aims to develop specific skills, and classroom exercises are essential to this goal, attendance is strongly recommended.
