Course Objectives:

This course is intended to introduce to students for the first time the fundamentals of organic chemistry, focusing on nomenclature, structures, and reactions and corresponding mechanisms of selected major classes of organic compounds.

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance at the class is mandatory. Students with 30% absence will not be allowed to take the final exam and eventually fail this course.

2. Students must read each chapter BEFORE AND AFTER the lecture.

3. Students are encouraged to ask questions during class.

4. Homework is assigned for every chapter and due after the corresponding lecture is completed. There are two tests.

Course Contents:

CHAPTER 1: STRUCTURE DETERMINES PROPERTIES

CHAPTER 2: ALKANES AND CYCLOALKANES: INTRODUCTION TO HYDROCARBONS

CHAPTER 3: ALKANES AND CYCLOALKANES: CONFORMATIONS AND CIS–TRANS STEREOISOMERS

CHAPTER 4: ALCOHOLS AND ALKYL HALIDES: INTRODUCTION TO REACTION MECHANISMS

CHAPTER 5: STRUCTURE AND PREPARATION OF ALKENES: ELIMINATION REACTIONS  

CHAPTER 6: ADDITION REACTIONS OF ALKENES  

CHAPTER 7: CHIRALITY  

CHAPTER 8: NUCLEOPHILIC SUBSTITUTION

CHAPTER 9: ALKYNES

CHAPTER 10: CONJUGATION IN ALKADIENES AND ALLYLIC SYSTEMS 

CHAPTER 11: ARENES AND AROMATICITY

CHAPTER 12: ELECTROPHILIC AND NUCLEOPHILIC AROMATIC SUBSTITUTION  

CHAPTER 13: SPECTROSCOPY

Credits: 3