CHEM 3201
Structure Elucidation
Instrumental methods for determining organic structures. Selected organic reactions with emphasis on mechanisms and reactive intermediates.
2026
Readings
- Posted: Monday November 2, 2026 Due Date: Thursday November 5, 2026
2024
Topics
- Molecular Formulae/Elemental Analysis (Step 1) Sep 5, 10
- Mass spectrometry: Part 1 – basic theory, instrumentation, Sep 12, 17
- and sampling techniques (primarily Step 1) 19, MT
- Mass spectrometry: Part 2 – fragmentation and structural Sep 19, 24, I
- analysis (primarily step 1 but also to a minor extent 26, Oct 1
- steps 2 and 3)
- NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy: part 1 – Oct 10, 15, MT
- basic concepts and 1H NMR (Step 3 but can be related 17 III
- to steps 1 and 2 as well)
- related to steps 1 and 2 as well) Nov 5 Final
- NMR spectroscopy: part 3 – Spin–spin coupling in NMR Nov 5, 7
- spectra (Step 3) 12, 14
- NMR spectroscopy: part 4 – Other topics in 1D NMR Nov 19, 21
- exchange processes, decoupling, nOe, conformational
- analysis, stereochemistry (Step 3 but can be related to
- Steps 1 and 2 as well)
- NMR spectroscopy: part 5 – advanced NMR: 2D Nov 26, 28
- experiments (Step 3) 30
- UV spectroscopy (Steps 2 and 3) Dec 3, 5
- Combined spectral problem solving (Steps 1, 2, and 3 If time
Readings
- MANDATORY TEXTBOOK: Introduction to Spectroscopy (fifth edition, 2015) by Pavia, Lampman, Kriz, and Vyvyan (publisher: Cengage, ISBN: 978-1-285-46012-3): It is available at the
- is an international edition of the 4th edition; however, be aware that it is printed on poorer quality paper and lacks the answers to the practice problems.
Prerequisites & course information
Prerequisite(s): CHEM 2204 or CHEM 2208 . Lectures three hours a week, tutorial one and a half hours per week.