Curriculum Information

The Chemistry of Carbonyl Compounds:

Review of structure, bonding and nomenclature of the carbonyl functionality containing compounds (aldehydes/ketones/carboxylic acids/acid chlorides, anhydrides/esters/amide and nitriles). Overview of organic reactions involving carbonyl compounds and various reagents such as Grignard, Gillman reagents and a variety of reducing and oxidizing agents.

Overview of acyl substitution (NAS), nucleophilic addition reactions of carbonyl compounds, acetals formation reactions of aldehydes/ketones and their use as protecting groups, ylides formation and the Wittig reaction.

The carboxylic acids and their derivatives: reactivity, synthesis and preparation of derivatives via Fischer esterification reaction etc.

Rationalisation of the approaches adopted in planning the synthesis of organic compounds. Introduction to some interesting carbon-carbon bond forming reactions and functional group interconversions. The devising of plans/strategies for the synthesis of small organic molecules, drugs and compounds of commercial interest through retrosynthetic analysis of a target.

Introduction to Heterocyclic Chemistry:

Introduction - General nature of heterocyclic compounds and aromatic heterocycles. Heterocyclic structures in natural compounds. Recap of benzene - structure and reactivity.

Review of aldol, Michael addition, imine and enamine formation reactions.

Reactivity of p -excessive heteroaromatics - Electronic structure and effect on reactivity. Electrophilic (and nucleophilic) substitution reactions of a range of heterocyclic compounds such as pyrroles, indoles, furans, thiophenes, and azoles. Reactivity of selected functionalised derivatives.

Reactivity of p -deficient heteroaromatics - Electronic structure and effect on reactivity. Electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution reactions of selected heterocyclic compounds. Reactions of pyridines, and their benzo- fused analogues. Reactions at the heteroatoms of aromatic heterocyclic structures of interest. Reactivity of N-oxides and some functionalised derivatives.