Organic Chemistry

Introduction & Review of Chemical Foundations

• Atomic structure, hybridization, and bonding (sp³, sp², sp)

• Lewis structures, formal charge, resonance

• Molecular geometry (VSEPR theory)

• Polarity and intermolecular forces

2. Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules

• Functional groups overview (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, amines, etc.)

• Molecular formula and degree of unsaturation

• Nomenclature (IUPAC rules for naming organic compounds)

• Physical properties and trends (boiling/melting point, solubility)

3. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

• Structure, conformations, and Newman projections

• Stability of conformations (anti vs gauche)

• Chair conformations of cyclohexane

• Combustion and halogenation reactions (radical substitution)

4. Stereochemistry

• Chirality and optical activity

• Enantiomers, diastereomers, and meso compounds

• R/S configuration system

• Fischer projections

5. Alkyl Halides and Nucleophilic Substitution

• Polarization of C–X bond

• Mechanisms of SN1 and SN2 reactions

• Factors affecting rate: substrate structure, nucleophile strength, solvent effects, leaving group quality

• Stereochemical outcomes (inversion/retention)

6. Elimination Reactions

• E1 and E2 mechanisms

• Competition between substitution and elimination

• Zaitsev’s vs Hofmann’s rule

• Alkene stability

7. Alkenes and Alkynes

• Structure and stability

• Nomenclature and isomerism (cis/trans, E/Z)

• Electrophilic addition reactions to alkenes

• Markovnikov vs anti-Markovnikov addition

• Hydrogenation, halogenation, hydrohalogenation, hydration

• Reactions of alkynes (addition, reduction, oxidation)

8. Alcohols, Ethers, and Epoxides (intro)

• Preparation (via substitution, addition, reduction)

• Properties and acidity

• Reactions: oxidation, substitution, dehydration

9. Reaction Mechanisms and Energy Diagrams

• Transition states and intermediates

• Reaction coordinate diagrams

• Kinetic vs thermodynamic control

10. Spectroscopy (basic introduction)

• Infrared (IR) spectroscopy: identifying functional groups

• Mass spectrometry (MS) basics

• (Sometimes: NMR spectroscopy introduced at the end of Organic I)