Organic Chemistry Branches and Functional Groups

Branches of Organic Chemistry

• Structural Organic Chemistry: deals with the structure and bonding of organic molecules
• Physical Organic Chemistry: studies the physical properties and reactions of organic molecules
• Synthetic Organic Chemistry: focuses on the methods and strategies for synthesizing organic compounds
• Mechanistic Organic Chemistry: explores the mechanisms of organic reactions

Functional Groups

• A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that determines its chemical properties and reactivity
• Common functional groups:
  • Alkyl (R-)
  • Alkenyl (R-CH=CH-)
  • Alkynyl (R-C≡C-)
  • Hydroxyl (R-OH)
  • Carbonyl (R-CO-R')
  • Amino (R-NH2)
  • Carboxyl (R-COOH)

IUPAC Nomenclature

• A system of rules for naming organic compounds
• Uses prefixes, suffixes, and root words to describe the structure of a molecule
• Examples:
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Ethanol (CH3CH2OH)
  • But-2-ene (CH3CH=CHCH3)

Isomerism

• Structural Isomerism: different molecules with the same molecular formula
• Stereoisomerism: different molecules with the same molecular formula and bond order, but differing in three-dimensional arrangement
  • Enantiomers: non-superimposable mirror images
  • Diastereomers: non-superimposable, non-mirror images

Reaction Mechanisms

• Substitution Reactions: replacement of a functional group with another
• Elimination Reactions: removal of a functional group, leading to a new π bond
• Addition Reactions: formation of a new bond between two molecules
• Rearrangement Reactions: reorganization of atoms within a molecule

Reaction Conditions

• Temperature: affects the rate and outcome of a reaction
• Solvents: influence the reaction rate and selectivity
• Catalysts: speed up reactions without being consumed
• Reagent: a substance that participates in a reaction

Important Concepts

• Acid-Base Chemistry: the study of proton transfer reactions
• Redox Reactions: oxidation and reduction reactions
• Stereochemistry: the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule
• Resonance: the delocalization of electrons within a molecule

Branches of Organic Chemistry

• Deals with the structure and bonding of organic molecules: Structural Organic Chemistry
• Studies the physical properties and reactions of organic molecules: Physical Organic Chemistry
• Focuses on the methods and strategies for synthesizing organic compounds: Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• Explores the mechanisms of organic reactions: Mechanistic Organic Chemistry

Functional Groups

• A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule that determines its chemical properties and reactivity
• Alkyl (R-) is a common functional group
• Alkenyl (R-CH=CH-) is a common functional group
• Alkynyl (R-C≡C-) is a common functional group
• Hydroxyl (R-OH) is a common functional group
• Carbonyl (R-CO-R') is a common functional group
• Amino (R-NH2) is a common functional group
• Carboxyl (R-COOH) is a common functional group

IUPAC Nomenclature

• IUPAC Nomenclature is a system of rules for naming organic compounds
• Uses prefixes, suffixes, and root words to describe the structure of a molecule
• Example: Methane (CH4) is named using IUPAC Nomenclature
• Example: Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is named using IUPAC Nomenclature
• Example: But-2-ene (CH3CH=CHCH3) is named using IUPAC Nomenclature

Isomerism

• Structural Isomerism: different molecules with the same molecular formula
• Stereoisomerism: different molecules with the same molecular formula and bond order, but differing in three-dimensional arrangement
• Enantiomers: non-superimposable mirror images
• Diastereomers: non-superimposable, non-mirror images

Reaction Mechanisms

• Substitution Reactions: replacement of a functional group with another
• Elimination Reactions: removal of a functional group, leading to a new π bond
• Addition Reactions: formation of a new bond between two molecules
• Rearrangement Reactions: reorganization of atoms within a molecule

Reaction Conditions

• Temperature affects the rate and outcome of a reaction
• Solvents influence the reaction rate and selectivity
• Catalysts speed up reactions without being consumed
• Reagent: a substance that participates in a reaction

Important Concepts

• Acid-Base Chemistry: the study of proton transfer reactions
• Redox Reactions: oxidation and reduction reactions
• Stereochemistry: the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule
• Resonance: the delocalization of electrons within a molecule