Organic Chemistry: Stereoisomers

Stereoisomers

• Various molecules exist as stereoisomers, differing in how groups are arranged in 3-dimensional space.
• Examples are D-glyceraldehyde and L-glyceraldehyde, which differ in the spatial arrangement of the hydroxyl (-OH) and aldehyde groups.

Organic Chemistry

• Structural Formulas: Charts show graphical representations of molecules, highlighting arrangement of atoms.
• Functional Groups: Many organic compounds contain specific functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl -OH, carboxyl -COOH, amino -NH2, and various others), each with characteristic properties.
• Systematic Names: Used to precisely define organic compounds (e.g., methane, ethane, propane).
• Isomers: Same molecular formula but different structures.
• Stereoisomers: Same atoms, same bonds but different 3D arrangement.
• Configuration: Spatial arrangement of groups around a chiral center.
• Nomenclature: Rules for naming organic molecules using prefixes and suffixes.
• Reactions: Processes that involve the conversion of reactants into products by changes in chemical bonds; illustrated in different sections of the document
• Structure and Bonding: Diagrams indicate the arrangements and types of bonds between atoms in different molecules.
• Conformations: Different spatial arrangements of a molecule due to the rotation around single bonds
• Functional groups: Key groups within molecules that give them specific properties (e.g., aldehydes, ketones, alcohols)
• Isomerism: Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures (e.g., cis-trans isomers)

Aromatic Compounds

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and phenanthrene are examples of planar cyclic compounds with delocalized pi electrons— important in many chemical and biological systems.
• Toluene: A substituted benzene with a methyl group, acting as a building block in some chemical syntheses.
• Xylenes (ortho-, meta-, para-): Methyl-substituted benzenes.

Heterocyclic Compounds

• Nitrogen-containing Rings: Examples like pyrrole, imidazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, purine, indole, thiophene, and other cyclic structures with nitrogen atoms— crucial in various biochemical processes.

Other Organic Compounds

• Alcohols and Phenols: Contain hydroxyl groups (-OH), important for hydrogen bonding and intermolecular interactions.
• Aldehydes and Ketones: Contain carbonyl groups (C=O), central functional groups, often involved in chemical reactions.
• Amines: Nitrogen-containing organic compounds with wide applications in many areas, like drugs and polymers
• Ethers: Contain an oxygen atom bridging two hydrocarbon groups; used in various organic syntheses and as solvents.
• Lipids: Include diverse structures from fatty acids to triglycerides, crucial for biological membranes and energy storage.
• Carbohydrates: Include monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, and galactose; important for energy storage, structural support (e.g., cellulose), and cell recognition. Structural formulas show the connections between carbon atoms and their related functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl and carbonyl).
• Carboxylic Acids: Contain carboxyl groups (-COOH). Used in various chemical synthesis and biological systems; Examples include formic, acetic, and oxalic acids.

Chemical Reactions

• Addition Reactions: adding atoms or groups to molecules (e.g., addition of bromine or hydrogen chloride to alkenes).
• Substitution Reactions: replacing an atom or group in a molecule (e.g., chlorination of methane).
• Oxidation-Reduction: processes in which electrons are transferred between molecules (e.g., oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones).
• Saponification: Reaction between a fat or oil and a strong base, creating soap
• Esterification: Reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, producing an ester.
• Acylation: Replacement of a hydrogen atom, or functional group with an acyl group
• Reduction: gain of electrons; decrease in oxidation number
• Oxidation: loss of electrons; increase in oxidation number

Other Topics

• Stereochemistry/Stereoisomers: Explanations of isomers with the same atomic structure but differing spatial arrangements
• Structure-Function Relationships: Correlations between the structure of a molecule and its properties or biological function.
• Synthesis: Processes that create new chemical compounds by transforming existing ones.