Introductory Courses:
CHEM 220: Organic Chemistry I
This course serves as an introduction to the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry. As such, it explores the properties and structures of carbon-based molecules, and focuses on how these factors influence their reactivity. A special emphasis is placed on biologically relevant organic transformations, as well as the prevalence of organic chemistry in everyday lives. The lab component of this course focuses on introducing students to the practical techniques employed when conducting reactions and purifying organic molecules.
CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry II
Continuation of Organic Chemistry I. The course focuses on the reactivity of organic molecules, including molecules and reactions with biological relevance. Special emphasis is placed on mechanism and employing chemical reactions to develop strategies for multistep synthesis. Includes one three-hour laboratory that applies the techniques of organic chemistry to the synthesis of interesting organic molecules.
Upper-Division Courses:
CHEM 380: Organic Synthesis
A central tenet of organic chemistry lies in our ability to efficiently construct organic molecules that can be applied in a vairety of impactful contexts, such as the treatment of human diseases. The goal of this course is to equip you with a thorough understanding of modern synthetic transformations, with a specific emphasis on the mechsnisms of these reactions and issues of stereoselectivity. Equipped with this chemical toolbox, we will explore the efficient design and synthesis of biologically relevant molecules.