CHEM 2545 - Organic Chemistry II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

Organic chemistry - involving carbon bound to itself and other elements - is fundamental to life on earth and also crucial to many industries. This course covers the central aspects of structure and reactivity of organic molecules that prepare students for STEM careers. It is designed for students majoring in chemistry but is also suitable for those focussing on biological, medical, environmental or material sciences. The language of organic chemistry is based on visual and logical arguments which are readily accessible to a wide range of students. The theory component builds up an understanding of chemical reactivity and structure, as well as synthetic methods. These concepts underpin the manufacture of our medicines and materials. The laboratory component provides a vital practical training with a strong focus on developing skills to control chemical reactivity, synthesise and isolate molecular targets, characterise their structure and properties, and then to report and apply this knowledge to disciplinary and grand challenges.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHEM 2545
    Course Organic Chemistry II
    Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7.5 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites CHEM1100 or CHEM1310 and CHEM1200 or CHEM1313 or CHEM1101 and CHEM 1201 and CHEM 1312
    Incompatible CHEM 2510, CHEM 2520
    Course Description Organic chemistry - involving carbon bound to itself and other elements - is fundamental to life on earth and also crucial to many industries. This course covers the central aspects of structure and reactivity of organic molecules that prepare students for STEM careers. It is designed for students majoring in chemistry but is also suitable for those focussing on biological, medical, environmental or material sciences. The language of organic chemistry is based on visual and logical arguments which are readily accessible to a wide range of students. The theory component builds up an understanding of chemical reactivity and structure, as well as synthetic methods. These concepts underpin the manufacture of our medicines and materials. The laboratory component provides a vital practical training with a strong focus on developing skills to control chemical reactivity, synthesise and isolate molecular targets, characterise their structure and properties, and then to report and apply this knowledge to disciplinary and grand challenges.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Tak Kee

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 explain chemical reactivity on the basis of structure and electronic arguments, including consideration of isomerism and stereochemistry
    2 exploit principles ochemical reactivity for the synthesis of new organic compounds, and propose synthetic routes to a variety of molecules, starting from simple precursors
    3 as part of a team or individually, design, conduct, analyse and interpret results of an experiment, and effectively communicate these in written reports and other formats
    4 predict likely spectral characteristics of given molecular species; solve the structures of unknown molecules using appropriate spectroscopic techniques (principally NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry)
    5 gain an understanding and appreciation for how fundamental organic chemistry impacts on biological, environmental and industrial processes.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,3,4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3,5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3,5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    3,5
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    ‘Organic Chemistry’ (Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers, Oxford University Press, 2012)
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course content includes the following:
    •    Lectures 36 x  1 hour  sessions (3 per week)
    •    Tutorials 12 x  1 hour sessions (1 per week)
    •    Practicals 10 x 4 hour sessions (include the lab familiarisations session)


    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g.,reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Structure Determination & Aromatics (9 lectures, 3 tutorials):
    Structure Determination
    The theoretical basis for contemporary structure determination methods, principally carbon and proton NMR and mass spectrometry, will be described in the context of organic molecules. Students will develop skills in the interpretation of spectroscopic data and apply these methods to determine molecular structure for unknown compounds.
    Aromatic Chemistry
    Concepts including conjugation, resonance, aromaticity and Huckel’s rule will be introduced and reinforced through consideration of the chemistry and reactivity of aromatic compounds, with a focus on electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution reactions.  Students will also be introduced to the chemistry of heterocyclic aromatic molecules.

    Stereochemistry (9 lectures, 3 tutorials):
    This section of the course will extend the concepts of chirality encountered at Level I, then examine the three-dimensional shape of molecules. Conformation will be an important feature, with the emphasis on the effect that this can have on reactivity. Substitution and elimination reactions will be used to illustrate these concepts.

    Synthetic Chemistry (18 lectures, 6 tutorials):
    This section of the course will examine the reactivity of the carbonyl group, with the emphasis on aldehydes, ketones, imines, esters, amides and carboxylic acids. A mechanistic approach to the reactions of these compounds will be undertaken. Applications to the synthesis of molecules will be a feature, as will applications of this chemistry to the biological and material sciences.  It will also cover electrophilic addition, and consider regio- and stereo-selectivity, the chemistry of enols and enolates, tautomerism, nucleophilic reactivity, alkylation and the aldol reaction.

    Practicals: (10 x 4-hour sessions from Weeks 2 – 11)
    The 4-hour session in the first week is devoted to safe working practices in the chemistry laboratory, with a focus on risk management, chemical risk assessment and lab familiarisation. Three weeks of skills based sessions devoted to experimental design, separation and purification methodologies, analytical and spectroscopic techniques, data acquisition and data handling with a variety of software will follow. The remaining sessions will allow students to implement these skills, develop their control of chemical reactivity, synthesise and isolate molecular targets, and characterise the structure and properties, all in a safe manner.  Training and direction on communicating the results of these investigations in various formats will be provided.
    Specific Course Requirements

    Attendance is compulsory at all scheduled chemistry practical sessions.



  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle
    Yes/No
    Learning Outcome Approx timing of assessment(week of teaching period)
    Assignments Formative and Summative

    10%

    No 1,2,4 2-12
    Practical skills proficiency and scientific
    communication
    Formative and Summative 30% No 1,3,4,5 2-11
    Exam Summative
    60%
    Yes
    1,2,4
    Exam period
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Practical work is compulsory  – This includes attendance, conduct of required experimental work, attendance at demonstrator interviews (as required) and submission of laboratory reports. The learning outcomes for this course are substantially dependent on laboratory experience and practice.  Therefore, missing any practical class in a semester will result in a grade of FAIL being recorded for the course. Students with medical or compassionate reasons for non-attendance will be given an opportunity to make up missed practical sessions.

    To pass this course, students must attain a minimum of 45% for the examination and attend all practicals. Students who attain a final course grade of at least 45% but do not attain a minimum of 45% for the exam may be offered an Additional Academic Exam during the Replacement/Additional Assessment period, in line with the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy.
    Assessment Detail
    Assignments 10%  
    This assessment activity specifically covers lecture course content and is designed to encourage students to engage with the subject matter through semester (short-answer assignments or equivalent online tests). The assignments are supported and enhanced by students’ preparation for tutorials.


    Practical skills proficiency and scientific communication 30% 
    This assessment activity comprehensively addresses the practical aspects of chemistry and competent training in the techniques employed in chemical laboratories. This will include a mixture of proficiency testing for key laboratory skills, communicating (written, oral or otherwise) and documenting experiment outcomes and interpretations.An opportunity to make-up a maximum of one missed practical session may be offered during the semester. Students will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate skill proficiency through semester. Students must contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to discuss make-ups.

    Final exam 60%
    This assessment activity comprehensively addresses the learning outcomes. The exam is 3 hours duration
    Submission
    Submission of Assigned Work: 
    Coversheets must be completed and attached to all submitted work. Instructions on how to submit your work and coversheets will be provide on MyUni.

    Extensions for Assessment Tasks
    Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Coordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current/

    Late submission of assessments
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.




    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.