Course

Organic Chemistry – Part II

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Chemistry
Course code
CHEM 2421
Credits
5.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
36
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically offered
Summer
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course is a continuation of the topics discussed in CHEM 2321. It begins with a brief review of I.R. and U.V. spectroscopy followed by the theory and application of proton and carbon-13 N.M.R. spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and the use of the above in solving combined structural problems. The course will then continue the survey of functional group nomenclature, structure, and reactivity begun in CHEM 2321. Topics include: oxidation/reduction of alcohols/carbonyl compounds, radicals, conjugated unsaturated molecules, aromatic compounds, aldehydes/ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives. The course ends with a brief overview of amino acids, polypeptides, and protein structure.
Course content

Spectroscopic Methods of Structure Determination: Electromagnetic spectrum. Brief review of U.V. spectroscopy and I.R. spectroscopy. Theory and application of 1H- and 13C-N.M.R. spectroscopy. Brief introduction to using mass spectrometry to determine a molecular ion. Combined structural problems.

Oxidation/Reduction Reactions of Alcohols/Carbonyl Compounds: Identifying oxidation and reduction in organic compounds. Reduction reactions on carbonyl compounds: lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride, catalytic hydrogenation. Oxidation reactions on alcohols/carbonyl compounds: chromium reagents/derivatives. Selected modern oxidation methods (e.g. Swern oxidation). Grignard reactions with aldehydes, ketones, esters, carbon dioxide, and epoxides.

Radical Reactions: Differences between radical and ionic reactions and mechanisms. Single-barbed (fish-hook) arrows. Formation, stability, and reactions characteristic of radicals. Radical addition of halogen to alkanes. Anti-Markovnikov addition of HBr to alkenes. Radical polymerization. Introduction to synthetic polymers and structure-property relationships. 

Conjugated Unsaturated Systems: Resonance structures and the allyl radical and cation. Allylic substitution reactions. Alkadienes and polyunsaturated hydrocarbons. Diels-Alder (1,4-cycloaddition) reactions.

Aromatic Compounds: Nomenclature of benzene derivatives. Structure and stability of benzene and selected additional aromatic compounds. Huckel’s Rule and criteria for aromaticity. Birch reduction.

Reactions on Benzene and Derivatives: Electrophilic aromatic substitution general mechanism. Electrophilic reactions on benzene: halogenation, nitration, sulfonation/de-sulfonation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation, Clemmenson Reduction. Substituent effects on reactivity and orientation, activating and deactivating groups. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution.

Aldehydes and Ketones and Addition Reactions to the Carbonyl Group: Aldehyde and ketone nomenclature. Physical properties. Synthesis of aldehydes and ketones. Nucleophilic addition to carbonyl group, Addition of carbon-based nucleophiles. Addition of oxygen nucleophiles: hydrates, hemiacetal and acetal formation. N-based nucleophiles: imine and enamine formation. Named addition reactions: Wolff-Kishner reduction, Wittig reaction, Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.

Aldol Reaction, Reactions at the a-Carbon: Identifying the carbonyl alpha-carbon. Keto-enol tautomerization. Reactions of enols and enolates, including alpha-halogenation and alpha-alkylation. The Aldol reaction, crossed Aldol reactions, Claisen-Schmidt reactions, crossed Claisen reactions, Dieckmann condensation. Cyclizations via Aldol condensations. Malonic ester synthesis. Conjugate addition reactions, Michael reaction. Stork enamine synthesis. Robinson annulation.

Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives: Physical properties. Carboxylic acid and derivative nomenclature. Preparation and reactions of carboxylic acids, anhydrides, esters, amides, acid chlorides, amides, nitriles. Carboxylic acid derivative reactivity order. Nucleophilic substitution of carboxylic acid derivatives.

Amino Acids and Proteins: Classification and nomenclature. Acid-base properties. Peptide and disulfide bonds. Primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary peptide structure.

Laboratory Content

Laboratory experiments will be selected from the following list and performed during the lab period:

  1. The Aldol Reaction (Two weeks)
  2. Combined Structural Problem Solving Session
  3. Identification of an Unknown Compound by Spectroscopy
  4. Separation and Identification of Methyl Esters of Fatty Acids by Gas Chromatography (Two Weeks)
  5. Grignard Reaction: Synthesis of Triphenylmethanol (Two weeks)
  6. Nitration of an Unknown Organic Compound (Two weeks)
  7. Polarimetry of Carbohydrates (Two Weeks)
  8. Esterification: Synthesis of an Unknown Ester
  9. Lab Exam(s) (any or all of: written/practical/oral presentation/oral quiz/group work)
Learning activities

The course will be presented using lectures, problem sessions, and class discussion. Videos, other audio-visual aids, as well as on-line material will be used where appropriate. The laboratory will be used to illustrate the practical aspects of the course material.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Lecture Material (70%)

  • Two or more in-class tests will be given during the semester (20-30%)
  • Any or all of the following evaluations, at the discretion of the instructor: individual/group assignments, in-class/on-line assignments/quizzes, in-class presentations, class participation [5% maximum] (0-20%)
  • A final exam covering the entire semester’s work will be given during the final examination period (30-40%)

Laboratory (30%)

  • Pre-lab work (typically evaluated with a notebook inspection and/or pre-lab quiz), written experiment reports (either formal typewritten report or informal report sheet, typically completed by hand), qualitative/quantitative results of experiments performed on unknown samples
  • Written quizzes in addition to the pre-lab work may be given, at the discretion of the instructor
  • Final Lab Exam(s) (written and/or practical, at the discretion of the instructor)
  • An oral presentation and oral quiz may substitute either a single written experiment report or Final Lab Exam (in whole, or in part), at the discretion of the instructor

Note:

A student who misses three or more laboratory experiments will earn a maximum P grade.

A student who achieves less than 50% in either the lecture or laboratory portion of the course will earn a maximum P grade.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. determine the structure of an unknown organic compound when given the formula, I.R. spectrum, U.V.-Vis. absorption spectrum, mass spectrum, 1H and  13C N.M.R. spectra 
  2. predict the number of peaks and their respective chemical shifts, splitting patterns, and integrations in a 1H- N.M.R spectrum when given the structural formula of an organic compound
  3. recognize common oxidizing and reducing agents and identify the transformation they induce
  4. predict a radical reaction and its major product(s) by drawing an appropriate radical mechanism when given suitable substrate(s) and reagent(s)
  5. predict the relative stability when given a list of radical species
  6. predict the structure of the polymer and draw a mechanisn for the initiation, propogation, and termination steps of the radical reaction when given an appropriate monomer
  7. draw the resonance structures of allylic radicals and draw the complete mechanism of an allylic substitution reaction; predict whether an allylic substitution reaction will be thermodynamically or kinetically controlled
  8. predict the product of a Diels-Alder reaction (including stereochemical details) and the relative speed of the reaction when given a list of potential dienes and dienophiles
  9. give experimental evidence showing that benzene is resonance stabilized, and relate this evidence to molecular orbital theory
  10. predict whether any given organic compound is aromatic, non-aromatic, or anti-aromatic
  11. predict the structure of the major product when given benzene or a substituted aromatic and a suitable electrophile,by drawing a detailed reaction mechanism showing all resonance structures
  12. predict the structure of the major product when given a substituted aromatic and a suitable nucleophile, by drawing a detailed reaction mechanism
  13.  predict if reaction will occur when given an aldehyde or ketone and a suitable reagent, by addition to the carbonyl group or at the carbon alpha to the carbonyl group
  14. give the IUPAC name and the common name, if one exists, when given the formula of an organic compound containing a functional group covered in the course,
  15. predict the major product when given substrate formula(s) and reagent(s), for all reactions covered in the course
  16. provide the complete mechanism for all reactions covered in the course by drawing curved arrows and indicating the structures of all transition states, intermediates, and by-products
  17. design a synthesis of the target compound using reactions learned throughout the course and CHEM 2321 when given the structure of a desired synthetic target, and a list of allowed starting materials,
  18. name any naturally-occuring amino acid, given its structure; draw any naturally-occuring amino acid, given its name
  19. draw an amino acid zwitter-ion; predict the acid/base properties of any amino acid, including the shape of its titration curve
  20. describe and draw examples of primary through quaternary protein structure
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials include:

Organic Chemistry by D. Klein (current edition)

Chemistry 2421 Laboratory Manual, Douglas College

Safety eyewear

Carbonless copy paper notebook

Lab coat

Requisites

Prerequisites

CHEM 2321

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CHEM 2421
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX CHEM 202 (4)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU CHEM 201 (4)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CHEM 2420 (4)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CHEM 2416 (4)
Okanagan College (OC) OC CHEM 222 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CHEM 283 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CHEM 2223 (3) & TRU CHEM 2225 (0)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CHEM 2220 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU CHEM 222 (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO CHEM_O 204 (3) or UBCO CHEM_O 214 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) DOUG CHEM 2321 (5) & DOUG CHEM 2421 (5) = UBCV CHEM_V 203 (4) & UBCV CHEM_V 213 (3) & UBCV CHEM_V 245 (1)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC CHEM 203 (3) & UNBC CHEM 251 (1)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CHEM 214 (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC CHEM 234 (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC CHEM 2230 (4)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CHEM 232 (4)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
36
Currently enrolled
24
Remaining seats:
12
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3903
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

CHEM 2421 001 - Students must ALSO register in CHEM 2421 L01 or L02.