Organic Chemistry

Synopsis

Inspiring and motivating students from the moment it published, Organic Chemistry has established itself in just one edition as the students' choice of organic chemistry text. This second edition takes all that has made Organic Chemistry the book of choice, and has refined and refocused it to produce a text that is even more student-friendly, more coherent and more logical in its presentation than before. At heart, the second edition remains true to the first, being built on three principles: An explanatory approach, through which the reader is motivated to understand the subject and not just learn the facts; A mechanistic approach, giving the reader the power to understand compounds and reactions never previously encountered; An evidence-based approach, setting out clearly how and why reactions happen as they do, giving extra depth to the reader's understanding. The authors write clearly and directly, sharing with the reader their own fascination with the subject, and leading them carefully from topic to topic. Their honest and open narrative flags pitfalls and misconceptions, guiding the reader towards a complete picture of organic chemistry and its universal themes and principles. Enriched with an extensive bank of online resources to help the reader visualise the structure of organic compounds and their reaction mechanisms, this second edition reaffirms the position of Organic Chemistry as the essential course companion for all organic chemistry students. Online Resource Centre For students: A range of problems to accompany each chapter For registered adopters of the text: Figures from the book in electronic format

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry

* Definition and scope of organic chemistry: Study of carbon-containing compounds, excluding CO2, CO, and carbonates.
* Example: Methane (CH4) is an organic compound with a carbon backbone and hydrogen atoms attached to it.

Chapter 2: Bonding and Molecular Structure

* Types of bonds in organic molecules: Covalent bonds, including single, double, and triple bonds.
* Example: Ethene (C2H4) has a double bond between the two carbon atoms.
* Molecular geometry: Determined by electron distribution around atoms.
* Example: Methane has a tetrahedral molecular geometry due to its four bonding electrons.

Chapter 3: Alkanes

* Structure and naming of alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons with single carbon-carbon bonds.
* Example: Propane (C3H8) is a three-carbon alkane.
* Physical properties of alkanes: Nonpolar, low-boiling point, insoluble in water.
* Example: Pentane (C5H12) is insoluble in water and has a boiling point of 36.1°C.

Chapter 4: Alkenes and Alkynes

* Structure and naming of alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
* Example: Ethene (C2H4) is a two-carbon alkene.
* Structure and naming of alkynes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
* Example: Acetylene (C2H2) is a two-carbon alkyne.

Chapter 5: Reactions of Alkenes and Alkynes

* Addition reactions: Alkenes and alkynes react with electrophiles to add atoms or groups to the double or triple bond.
* Example: Ethene reacts with hydrogen to form ethane (C2H6).
* Polymerization reactions: Alkenes and alkynes can polymerize to form long chains of repeating units.
* Example: Ethylene (C2H4) can polymerize to form polyethylene, a common plastic.

Chapter 6: Stereochemistry

* Isomers: Molecules with the same molecular formula but different arrangements in space.
* Example: cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene are isomers of C4H8.
* Chirality: Molecules that are not superimposable on their mirror images.
* Example: Amino acids are chiral molecules that play crucial roles in biological systems.

Chapter 7: Mass Spectrometry and Infrared Spectroscopy

* Mass spectrometry: Identifies molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
* Example: The mass spectrum of a compound can reveal its molecular weight and elemental composition.
* Infrared spectroscopy: Analyzes the absorption of infrared radiation by molecules to determine their functional groups.
* Example: The infrared spectrum of a compound can indicate the presence of specific bonds, such as C-H, C-O, or N-H.

Chapter 8: Organic Synthesis

* Principles of organic synthesis: Methods for constructing organic molecules.
* Example: The Wittig reaction is commonly used to synthesize alkenes.
* Retrosynthesis: Analyzing a desired target molecule to determine the steps needed to synthesize it.
* Example: Designing a retrosynthetic pathway for a certain alcohol can involve considering likely starting materials and reactions.