Module CHEM2087: STRUCTURE AND REACTIVITY IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Department: Chemistry

CHEM2087: STRUCTURE AND REACTIVITY IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Prerequisites

• Core Chemistry 1A (CHEM1078).

Corequisites

• Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND Practical Chemistry 2 - Organic (CHEM2117).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To enhance understanding of the relationship between structure and reactivity (mechanisms) in organic compounds.

Content

• Physical organic chemistry.
• Ring chemistry and stereochemistry: small, normal and medium sized rings.
• Ring synthesis.

Learning Outcomes

• Rationalize the outcome of organic reactions by means of kinetics and isotopic labelling experiments.
• Apply kinetics to complex reaction schemes and use linear free energy relationships to predict reactivity.
• Rationalize the relative stabilities and properties of different sized organic ring systems and relate these to their ease of formation and corresponding methods of synthesis.
• Rationalize and describe the conformations of common ring systems and their effect upon reactivity.
• Rationalize and describe key aspects of the stereoelectronics of ring systems with particular reference to the anomeric effect and ring cyclization (Baldwin's rules).

• Group working, encouraged and developed through tutorial teaching.
• Written communication, advanced through the use of essay type questions in lecture-support worksheets.
• Problem-solving, developed through tutorial worksheets.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
• Tutorials are given to ensure that the students have grasped the concepts given in the lectures and to practice examples of problems. The work is formatively assessed.
• Workshops are larger groups of students where problems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Set work in preparation for tutorials and workshops.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University