Organic Chemistry

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Gaetano TOMASELLI

Expected Learning Outcomes

Organic compounds are the fundamental bricks of animal and plant world. The main aim of the class is to study the structure, properties and reactivity of main organic compounds, paying particular attention to those more relevant in food matrixes. Students must acquire the knowledge of the simple organic compounds, recognize the present functional groups and must be able to write the structures of simple molecules. They must be able to describe the reactivity of simple molecules taking into account the identities of their functional groups, to understand how simple molecules join to yield more complex molecules, to distinguish simple molecules from macromolecules and synthetic macromolecules from natural macromolecules.

Course Structure

Lectures (35 hrs) and exercises (14 hrs), chalk and blackboard, molecular models,  slides and scientific papers. The lecture notes, the slides and the exercises worked in the class room will be available on the studium website.

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students canask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP  (Centro per l’Inclusione Attiva e Partecipata - Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Required Prerequisites

Attendance of General Chemistry course is recomended

Attendance of Lessons

Normally mandatory

Detailed Course Content

Atomic and molecular orbitals, pi and sigma bonds. Lewis structures, resonance, nucleophiles and elecrophiles. Tridimensional molecular structure representation, isomerism, chirality,enantiomers, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones, aliphatic and aromatic amines. Polyciclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pollution effects. Aliphatic and aromatic carboxilic acids and their derivatives. Lipids, polymers, carbohydrates, aminoacids and proteins. Nanotechnologies and food.

Textbook Information

  1. Brown, Iverson, Anslyn, Foote: Chimica Organica, VI/2019, Edises, Napoli.
  2. Janice Gorzynski Smith: Fondamenti di Chimica Organica, II edizione 2014, MCGraw-Hill Education, Milano
  3. Paula Yurkanis Bruice, Elementi di chimica organica, II edizione 2017, Edises, Napoli
  4. John McMurry : Fondamenti di chimica organica, VII edizione, PICCIN Padova
  5. Class notes.

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1All the topics discussed during the lectures are important and interconnected and represent the necessary cultural background required to understand other scientific disciplines such as biochemistry and food chemistry. Particular attention will be addressed to the student ability to relate the molecule structure, by analyzing the geometry and the functional groups present in the structure itself, to its properties and to the observed reactive behavior.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The evaluation is based on a written exam followed, if it is required, by an oral exam. The student must prove:

- to be able to write molecules structural formulas

- to know IUPAC nomenclature to give the correct name to organic compounds

- to know the electrophile and nucleophile concept

- to be able to identify the different chemical bonds of the molecular structure and to establish the atoms tridimensional spatial arrangement in the structure

- to be able to identify the functional groups of the molecular structure and to predict the expected reactivity

- to be able to distinguish the different isomerism types and to connect the chirality to the biological activity

The vote follows the following scheme:

Unsuitable

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies

Ability to analyse and synthesise: Irrelevant. Frequent generalisations. Inability to synthesise

Use of references: Completely inappropriate

18-20

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections

Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills

Use of references: As appropriate

21-23

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: It is capable of correct analysis and synthesis. Argue logically and consistently

Using references: Use standard references.

24-26

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed consistently.

Using references: Use standard references.

27-29

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Knowledge more than good

Ability to analyse and synthesise: He has considerable skills in analysis and synthesis

Use of references: Has explored the topics.

30-30L

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge

Ability to analyse and synthesise: He has considerable skills in analysis and synthesis.

Use of references: Important insights.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1. Write the structural formula of 1,2,3-propanetriol.

2. Speciation of an amino acid with a known IP on changing the PH of solution.

3. Define  chirality and discuss its relevance in biology.

4. Formation  of a hemiacetal.

5. Reattivity of carbonyl group.

6. Difference between  D-glucose e beta-D-gluco-pyranose.

7. Explain the different acidity of ethanol  and phenol.

8. Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rule to assign the configuration of a stereocenter.

9. Aromaticity criteria.

10.Tridimensional structures of proteins.

11. Monosaccarides reactivity.

13. Carbocations stability.

14. Glycogen and  Cellulose.

15. Aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions.