OVERVIEW

This course is designed to provide the foundations of Organic Chemistry. Topics will be presented according to reaction types. The final part of the course will focus on the main primary metabolites.

In the laboratory section, students will learn fundamental organic chemistry techniques. They will also gain skills in writing laboratory reports, working effectively in teams, and managing experimental data correctly. Finally, the module will cover essential safety regulations and standards.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquire the fundamental concepts that allow to understand the structure and reactivity of the main classes of organic compounds, with particular emphasis on the biologically important reactions. Acquire a basic knowledge of the main primary metabolites. To be able to execute some of the typical practical procedures of an organic chemistry laboratory. To be able to work in group and to write a laboratory report.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Objectives

• To provide the foundations for understanding the structure and reactivity of key organic substances, with particular emphasis on biologically significant reactions. This will be achieved through classroom lectures (and optional tutorials) where topics are presented based on reaction types.
• To provide the tools to acquire a basic knowledge of the main primary metabolites (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleosides, and nucleotides).
• To provide the skills to perform standard organic chemistry laboratory operations, to learn how to work in a team, and how to write a lab report. These skills will be acquired through practical laboratory hours (varying according to the number of students), potential virtual lab exercises, and approximately 6 hours of preparatory lectures.

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Know and understand the structure of key organic substances;
2. Correctly write the structural formulas of organic substances;
3. Recognize molecular diversity based on chemical structure (isomerism);
4. Know the main organic reactions;
5. Predict the products of a given reaction by evaluating kinetic and thermodynamic aspects;
6. Know and understand the main primary metabolites: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids;
7. Practically perform common purification techniques for organic compounds;
8. Use analytical instruments for the characterization of organic compounds;
9. Correctly write a laboratory report;
10. Work effectively in a team.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of General Chemistry acquired during the first-semester General Chemistry course

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons  (56 hours). During the lessons the teacher can use digital teaching techniques (wooclap). To facilitate the work yourself with a smartphone or a laptop.

The tutoring activity will take place in the traditional way (problem solving in the classroom) and through innovative teaching techniques based on game-based learning.

The laboratory sessions (from 3 to 7, based on the number of students)  are compulsory.

Each student must attend all the laboratory sessions  and at least 66% of the classroom lessons.

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 before class begins, in order to liase and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1) Introduction on fundamental concepts of organic chemistry and compounds without functionality (6 hours). 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 The chemical bond in organic compounds. 1.3 Alkanes

2) Overview of the main functional groups and Aromatic compounds (4 hours) 2.1 Overview of the main functional groups with nomenclature elements. 2.2 Benzene and aromaticity. 2.3 Heteroaromatic compounds
3) Physical properties of organic compounds (2 hours). 3.1 Non-bonding interactions and physical properties. 3.2 Acid-base properties of organic compounds.
4) Stereochemistry (6 hours). 4.1 Conformations. 4.2 Stereoisomers, chirality, R / S notations. 4.3 Compounds with two stereogenic carbons. 4.4 Polarimetry. 4.5 Mixtures of enantiomers. 4.6 Equivalent stereogenic centers. 4.7 Chemical and biological properties of enantiomers. 4.8 Resolution of enantiomers trought the formation of diastereomeric salts. 4.9 E / Z isomerism in alkenes.
5) The oragnic reactions (2 hours) 5.1 Generalities on thermodynamic and kinetics of reactions.
6) Reactions of C = C double bonds (4 hours). 6.1 Hydrogenations of alkenes. 6.2 Electrophilic additions to the double bond - Markovnikov's rule. 6.3 Electrophilic substitution reactions on benzene.
7) Laboratory (6 hours) 7.1 Separation by extraction. 7.2 Purification by crystallization. 7.3 Purification by chromatography. 7.4 Explanation of laboratory experiences
8) Reactions of C = O double bonds (7 hours). 8.1 Nucleophilic additions to carbonyl compounds. 8.2 Keto-enol tautomeria 8.3 Nucleophilic acyl substitutions. 8.4 Other carboxylic derivatives. 8.5 Nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions in the biological world. 8.6 Reactions of nucleophiles at carbon in alpha at carbonyl: condensations
9) Oxidations and reductions of the main organic compounds (chemical and biological) (2 hours). 9.1 Calculation of the oxidation number. 9.2 Oxidation and reduction of oxygenated compounds. 9.3 Quinones.
10) Aliphatic nucleophilic substitutions (1 hour). 10.1 SN2 nucleophilic substitutions and E2 eliminations. 10.2 SN1 substitutions and E1 eliminations.
11) Carbohydrates (4 hours). 11.1 Structure and stereochemistry of the main monosaccharides. 11.2 Mutarotation. 11.3 Glycosides. 11.4 Oxidations and reductions of monosaccharides. 11.5 Disaccharides.
12) Amino acids and peptides (3 hours)
13) Lipids (2 hours). 13.1 Triglycerides - Soaps. 13.2 Phospholipids
14) Nucleic acids (2 hours)
15) Radical reactions (2 hours)
16) Classroom exercises (10 exercises of 2 hours) (optional; extra-CFU)
17) Laboratory sessions: 4 experiences in the lab 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Slides of lessons (published on aula web)
2. Exercises and solutions (published on aula web)
3. W.H. Brown, Introduzione alla Chimica Organica, EdiSES
4. P.Y. Bruice, Elementi di Chimica Organica, EdiSES

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA BANFI (President)

LISA MONI (President)

ANDREA BASSO

CHIARA LAMBRUSCHINI

ALESSANDRO PELLIS

RENATA RIVA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st March 2027

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

To access the exam the student must have: attended at least 60% of the lessons; attended all the laboratory sessions and performed the quizzes on aulaweb relating to the experiences, delivered a copy of the laboratory report on aulaweb (one per couple). The teachers, once the paper has been corrected and evaluated, will provide the student (through the appropriate function on aulaweb) with a copy with any corrections and observations.

The exam will be written and oral. The writing will be done in the classroom through Aulaweb, and, only in exceptional cases, online through Aulaweb with surveillance on TEAMS.

Those who achieve a score equal to or greater than 18, will be able to access the oral, which will focus on the topics covered in class and during laboratory sessions. 

Students must book at least 48 hours in advance on https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami/prenotazione.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed as follows: 

1) For the laboratory part: the ability to work in a group will be evalueted on the basis of the observation by the teacher during the laboratory sessions. The report will be evaluated taking into consideration the following parameters: use of an appropriate and specific language; use of correct reaction formulas and schemes; completeness of the report (description of procedures, observation of phenomena, mathematical calculations and conclusions).

2) For the theoretical part: the student must demonstrate to be able to respond adequately to the questions of the Aulaweb quiz and to correctly write formulas, stoichiometric equations, reaction mechanisms in the oral. The exam is always conducted by two teachers. The commission is able to verify with high accuracy the achievement of the learning outocomes. When these are not reached, the student is invited to deepen the study and to make use of further explanations by the lecturer.