Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

The study of molecules containing carbon along with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons consisting of all single covalent bonds between carbon atoms, with a general formula CnH2n+2.

Nomenclature

The system of naming organic compounds, including specific rules for alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

Cahn, Ingold & Prelog Rules

A system used to determine the priority of substituents in alkenes and assign configuration (E/Z) based on these priorities.

Enantiomers

Molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other but have identical physical properties.

Chiral Molecule

A molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, indicating optical activity.

R & S Configurations

A method to denote the configuration of chiral centers in molecules based on the priority of substituents.

Alcohols

Organic compounds characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group, with a suffix '-ol'.

Carboxylic Acids

Organic acids containing a carboxyl group (-COOH), with a suffix '-oic acid'.

Cis/Trans Isomerism

A type of stereoisomerism where substituents are arranged differently around a double bond or within a ring.

Conformer

Different spatial arrangements of atoms in a molecule resulting from the rotation around a σ bond.

Newman Projection

A method for visualizing molecule conformations by looking down the bond axis.

Steric Strain

Repulsive interactions that occur when bulky groups are forced too close together.

Staggered Conformation

The most stable conformation of a molecule, where atoms are positioned to minimize steric hindrance.

Eclipsed Conformation

A less stable conformation where atoms are aligned with one another, resulting in torsional strain.

Cycloalkanes

Cyclic organic compounds that typically have 5-6 membered rings, which are more stable and commonly found.

Tertiary Carbocations

Most sable, always formed in subsitution reactions.

Secondary Carbocations

Intermediate stability, may be formed in substitution reactions

Primary Carbocations and Methyl

Least stable, never formed in substitution reactions due to high reactivity and instability.

Conformational Isomers

Differ in conformations (shape) of the same molecule result from rotation around a single bond.

Structural Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different connectivity of atoms.

Geometric Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different spatial arrangement of atoms or groups around a double bond.

Enantiomer (optical isomer)

Compounds that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, often involving chiral centers.

Consitutional Isomer

Are connected in different ways and have different structures.

Identical Isomer

Isomers that have the same molecular formula and structural formula, resulting in the same connectivity of atoms.

Different

Molecules which differ in molecular formula.

Carboxylic acids

Are weak acids and can form hydrogen bonds so have relatively high boiling points.

Staggered conformation

A comformation that is lower in energy because the e^-s in the front C-H bonds are at the farest possiable distance from the e^-s in the back C-H bonds.

Cyclohexane in boat conformation

Some of the bonds are eclipes (the horizontal ones), making it higher in energy than the chair conformation where all the bonds are staggered.

Cyclohexane in chair conformation

Is lower in energy because all the bonds are staggered.