Organic Reactions

4.0 credits

(4 credits) A survey of reactions of organic compounds with emphasis on those with practical synthetic utility will be provided. Mechanisms of reactions will be considered as well as their scope and limitations. Stereochemical and stereoelectronic issues will be discussed. Selected topics to be covered are conformational analysis, olefin addition reactions, oxidation and reduction methods, pericyclic reactions, chemistry of enolates and metalloenamines, organosilicon chemistry, chemistry of nitrogen- and sulfur-based functional groups, chemistry of reactive intermediates, such as carbocations and carbenes. A solid background of college organic chemistry, including a good knowledge of reaction mechanisms, will be assumed as a prerequisite. Two 75-minute lectures per week with extensive reading assignments from original literature.