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.

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

3rd March 2025

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.