Organic Chemistry Lecture Notes

Study Notes

Organic Chemistry Lecture Notes

Organic Molecules: Organic molecules involve carbon atoms bonded with other elements.
Hybridization: Carbon atoms often hybridize, combining atomic orbitals (s and p) to form hybrid orbitals that shape bonding.
sp³ Hybridization: In methane (CH₄), carbon undergoes sp³ hybridization, forming four identical C-H bonds oriented towards the corners of a tetrahedron.
sp³ Hybridization in Alkanes: Alkanes, simple hydrocarbons, feature sp³ hybridized carbon atoms with tetrahedral geometry.
sp² Hybridization: In molecules like ethene (C₂H₄), carbon undergoes sp² hybridization, forming three sigma bonds and one pi bond.
sp² Hybridization in Alkenes: Alkenes (like ethene) have sp² hybridization resulting in trigonal planar geometry around the carbon atoms.
sp Hybridization: Ethyne (C₂H₂) showcases sp hybridization, forming two sigma bonds and two pi bonds creating linear geometry around the carbon atoms.
sp Hybridization in Alkynes: Alkynes (like ethyne) have sp hybridization leading to a linear arrangement of surrounding atoms.
Types of Organic Formulas: Molecular (C₄H₈O₂), Empirical, Condensed, Displayed, Structural, Bond-line (zig-zag).
Bond Line Formulas: Concise representations of organic compounds showing carbon-carbon bonds as lines; hydrogen atoms are implied.
Isomerism: Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.
Structural Isomerism: Different bonding patterns of atoms within a molecule with the same molecular formula.
- Chain Isomerism: Different arrangements of carbon atoms within a chain (straight vs branched).
- Positional Isomerism: Functional groups positioned at different spots within the molecule.
- Functional Isomerism: Molecules with the same formula but different functional groups.
- Ring-chain Isomerism: Molecules that can adopt cyclic or open-chain structures.
Stereoisomerism: Isomers with the same bonded atom arrangement but different spatial arrangements.
- Geometric Isomerism: Differ based on the relative positions of groups around a double bond (cis and trans, or E and Z).
- Optical Isomerism: Non-superimposable mirror images (enantiomers) that are chiral (molecules with a chiral carbon).
Chirality and Biological Properties: Molecules like proteins and amino acids have chiral centers that lead to specific biological interactions and functions. Binding sites in enzymes/receptors are chiral, specific to one enantiomer, not the other.
Functional Groups: Specific groups of atoms within molecules responsible for characteristic chemical reactions (e.g., alkene, alkyne, alcohol, carboxylic acid, ester, amine, amide).

Problem Sets

Provide problems and solutions for converting condensed structures to bond-line structures.
Problems and solutions for determining hybridization (sp, sp², or sp³) of carbon atoms in various molecules.
Questions and solutions about identifying chiral carbon atoms in organic structures.
Exercise problems associated with classifying carbon atoms (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).
Identify the functional groups within a series of complex organic molecules.