Chemistry D is a special topics in chemistry course on organic chemistry. The first half of the course will emphasize nomenclature, structure and properties of organic compounds. The second half of the course will involve exploration of reaction mechanisms along with a more extensive experience with laboratory synthesis and analysis of compounds. The text for the class is Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry by McMurry and Simanek. Additional reading assignments will be in the form of classroom handouts or web sites on organic chemistry--especially the Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry (VTOC). Many other resources are also available for exploring the wonders of chemistry-- including Chemistry at MIT OpenCourseware.

Chapter One Assignment:

• Read chapter one.
• Read the Stucture and Bonding section of VTOC.
• For Tuesday January 19, copy/paste the structures of 10 drug molecules into a document, circle and label all functional groups in each structure, draw in all unshared electron pairs, and label all sp2 or sp hybridized atoms. Copy/paste the structures of 5 organic molecules found in outer space, circle and label all functional groups in each structure, draw in all unshared electron pairs, and label all sp2 or sp hybridized atoms.
• You can download a free copy of ChemDraw from the UIUC Chemistry Learning Center web site.

Chapter Two Assignment:

• Read chapter two.
• Read the Nomenclature section of VTOC.
• For extra credit, use ChemDraw to draw and label all of the isomers for C₃H₆O. Due Thursday January 28.

Chapter Three Assignment:

• Read chapter three.
• Read the Reactions of Alkenes section of VTOC.

Chapter Four Assignment:

• Read chapter four.
• Read the Reaction Mechanisms section of VTOC.
• Read the Reactions of Alkenes Part II section of VTOC.
• Begin working on reaction mechanism notecards.

Chapter Five Assignment:

• Read chapter five.
• Read the Aromaticity section of VTOC.
• Read the Aromatic Substitution Reactions section of VTOC.
• Mechanism notecards due Thursday February 11.