LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide  knowledge of the structure, reactivity and properties of complex molecules, with a special focus on biomolecules.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will provide an in-depth knowledge of the structure, reactivity and properties of organic molecules. It is developed through three successive steps: classification and structure of functional groups characterizing the main classes of compounds in organic chemistry and fundamentals on the chemistry of coordination compounds, reactivity and reaction mechanisms for the conversion of different classes of compounds, description of structure, properties and reactivity of polyfunctional macromolecules of biological and biomedical / technological interest.

By the end of the course the student should be able to:

-describe the main functional groups and classes of compounds in organic chemistry (structure, nomenclature and isomerism),
-describe the coordination compounds,
-describe, with examples, (bio) macromolecules and polymeric structures,
-explain the general mechanisms of reactions in organic chemistry,
-evaluate, based on its chemical functional groups, the reactivity of an organic compound,

-predict the products of specific organic reactions
-evaluate the macroscopic properties of simple and complex organic compounds in relation to their structure.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, exercises and discussion of problems on chemical reactions and properties during class hours

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Common functional groups in Orgnaic Chemistry, IUPAC nomenclature and classifications of main organic compounds. Single bonds: alkanes, alcohols, ethers, amines. Double bonds: alkenes, carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and functional derivatives of carboxylic acids). Triple bonds: alkynes and nitriles. Aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene and main derivatives. Essentials of nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus containing organic compounds. Properties. Stereochemistry. Main organic reaction mechanisms: nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, elimination, nucleophilic addition, nucleophilic acyl substitution, chemical reactivity of benzene. Oxidation-reduction reactions. Synthetic polymers:  polymerisation reactions and structure-property relationships. Molecules of biological interest: carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides), amino acids and proteins, lipids, DNA and RNA. Essentials of coordination compounds.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lecture notes, aulaweb, Chemistry reference textbooks: J.McMurry, Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry; W.Brown, T.Poon, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, J.Wiley and Sons; J.G.Smith, Organic Chemistry, McGraw Hill