CHEM 330 : Contemporary Organic Chemistry
Science
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Contemporary Organic Chemistry covers advanced topics in organic chemistry. An emphasis is placed on both the mechanistic and conceptual basis underpinning modern synthetic methods, and the application of these synthetic tools to prepare biologically relevant molecules. This course is important for students who wish to have an advanced understanding of the methods to prepare organic molecules. The course will also give students extensive laboratory experience in synthetic chemistry. This course is important for students wishing to work or study postgraduate research in synthetic chemistry or for those students wishing to study CHEM 730.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the preparation and uses of silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and selenium reagents in contemporary organic chemistry. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Describe the nature, formation and uses of a number of reactive intermediates in contemporary organic chemistry. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Describe the preparation of carbocyclic rings of various sizes with reference to frontier molecular orbital theory. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the uses and mechanistic underpinning of organometallic reagents in contemporary organic chemistry. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Recall pericyclic reactions and the theoretical concepts behind these processes. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the uses and discuss the importance of pericyclic reactions in contemporary organic chemistry. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Understand and apply the various methods available for asymmetric synthesis and be able to apply this knowledge to predict the stereoselectivity of a number of asymmetric methods used in contemporary organic chemistry. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Demonstrate competence in advanced organic laboratory procedures, handling of advanced laboratory equipment and safe handling of chemicals. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Understand and apply the various spectroscopic techniques that allow the structure determination of organic molecules (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
A student must pass both the theory component and the practical component to gain an overall pass. The theory component is composed of quizzes, term tests, and final exams. The practical component is composed of laboratory experiments.
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of chemical sciences aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.
Tuākana Chemistry runs a range of activities for students enrolled in this class. This includes weekly workshops, social activities, and opportunities to engage with senior students and researchers within the School of Chemical Sciences. Tuākana-eligible students will be added automatically to the Tuākana Chemistry program when they enroll in this course. For more information, please see the Tuākana program website or email scstuakana@auckland.ac.nz.
Key Topics
The lecture course is split into four sections:
Section 1 covers advanced spectroscopic methods used to solve the structures of organic molecules, with a focus on the use of 2D NMR techniques.
Section 2 covers organometallic and organophosphorus chemistry, with a particular focus on methods for carbon-carbon bond formation.
Section 3 introduces the chemistry of other main-group elements (silicon, sulfur, and selenium), and reactive intermediates (carbenes, nitrenes, and benzynes) and provides an introduction to asymmetric synthesis - methods for preparing chiral molecules.
Section 4 introduces the frontier molecular orbital theory, which is explored in the context of both pericyclic and cyclization reactions.
Special Requirements
Attendance at the laboratories is a compulsory part of this course. Students must be wearing safety glasses, covered footwear, and a lab coat before entering the laboratory and must keep these on until after exiting the laboratory. Jandals or other open shoes are not satisfactory footwear. Students who wear prescription spectacles are required to wear safety glasses over their spectacles. Students must comply with all health and safety regulations whilst working in the laboratories.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 27 hours of lab, 20 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 37 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events. Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
All course material will be available on Canvas
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.