NKEK13006U Organic Chemistry
MSc Programme in Chemistry
MSc Programme in Chemistry with a minor subject
The Organic Chemistry course covers structure and mechanisms in organic chemistry with an emphasis on physical organic chemistry.
The major topics are:
- Chemical bonding and structures (electronegativity, VSEPR, Lewis structures, hybridization, QMOT, orbital mixing);
- Stereochemistry (configuration, conformation, chirality);
- Conformational, sterically and stereoelectronic effects (thermodynamic, kinetic);
- Solutions and non-covalent binding forces (strong and weak interactions)
- Acid-Base chemistry (definitions and implications of pH and p Ka );
- Energy surfaces and Kinetics (transition state theory, Hammond postulate, More O'Ferral-Jenck plots)
- Isotope effects (theory and practice)
- LFER (Hammett, Bronsted relationship, enthalpy-entropy compensation)
- Catalysis (General and specific acid/base catalysis)
- Nucleophilic substitution (at sp2, at sp3, types, leaving groups, anchimeric assistance, carbocations);
- Addition/elimination/rearrangement/isomerization
- Concerted pericyclic reactions (cycloadditions, sigmatropic rearrangements, FMO theory, electrocyclization)
- Radical reactions (reaction patterns, stability, substituent effects);
- Introduction to organometallic chemistry (catalysis, reactions and structures).
And special topics related to the above topics.
The teaching will to a large extent follow the themes in the teaching book chapters, but additional literature will be used to support each topic. The additional literature will mainly be classic and contemporary articles and concepts in organic chemistry. When possible and appropriate, examples from the teachers' own research will be used as examples of applied physical organic chemistry. Each topic will be introduced by the lecturer followed by discussions in the class. Exercises for each chapter will be handed out and discussed in class based on the questions from the textbook or independently prepared quiz.
It is required that all students present at least one research paper during the course.
After passing the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Describe reactions using physical organic chemistry.
- Justify selectivities between products on the basis of physical organic chemistry.
Skills:
- Apply the theory to solve practical problems in organic chemistry and elucidate the mechanisms of the desired and undesired reactions.
Competencies:
- Explain and discuss the above topics.
- Analyze reactions on the basis of physical organic chemistry.
Course material will be indicated on Absalon
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 323
- Theory exercises
- 56
- Exam
- 5
- Total
- 412
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilationOral examination, 20 minutes (no preparation time)
- Type of assessment details
- Written examination, essay writing, 4.00 h under invigilation
(50%)
Oral examination, 20 min. (no preparation time) (50%) - Exam registration requirements
Submission and approval of midterm essay after block 3
Submission and approval of all weekly assignments
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
- Midterm essay: open-book
- Written examination: molecular building models are allowed
- Oral examination: no aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Same as the ordinary exam. Both oral (25 min no preparation) and written exam (4 hours) must be retaken.
Midterm essay and weekly assignments that have not received approval must be submitted at least 3 weeks before the reexamination, and they must be approved no later 2 weeks prior to the reexamination.
Criteria for exam assesment
Adequate and profound presentation and explanation of the topics in the written and oral examination will result in the grade 12. Basic understanding of the topics and the ability to explain them in the context of presented problems is sufficient for passing the course.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NKEK13006U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 2 blocks
- Placement
- Block 3 And Block 4
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- Department of Chemistry
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Jiwoong Lee (jiwoong.lee@chem.ku.dk)
Lecturers
Jiwoong Lee