Organic Synthesis: Design and Methods
General Information
Estimated learning time
Recommendations
Competences / Learning outcomes
Learning objectives
Teaching blocks
Teaching methods and general organization
Official assessment of learning outcomes
Reading and study resources
General Information
| Course unit name | Organic Synthesis: Design and Methods |
| Course unit code | 568218 |
| Academic year | 2024/2025 |
| Coordinator | Alberto Moyano Baldoire |
| Department | Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry |
| Credits | 3 |
| Single program | S |
Prior considerations
Estimated learning time
| Activities | Type of training | Hours | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face-to-face and/or online activities | 26 | Includes problem-solving exercises | |
| - Lecture | Face-to-face | 26 | |
| Supervised project | 20 | ||
| Independent learning | 29 |
Recommendations
- Have completed Organic Synthesis, an optional fourth-year subject of the bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.
- Have a solid grounding in understanding the structure of organic compounds and the mechanisms of fundamental transformations.
- Have an advanced command of the English language.
Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study
- Basic competences
- Knowledge forming the basis of original thinking in the development or application of ideas, typically in a research context.
- Capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study.
- Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgments based on incomplete or limited information, taking due consideration of the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgments.
- Capacity to communicate conclusions, judgments and the grounds on which they have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
- Skills to enable lifelong self-directed and independent learning.
- General competences
- Capacity to orally present one’s own theoretical or practical work and bibliographic data.
- Capacity to understand scientific and technical documents in English in the field of chemistry.
- Capacity to work in a coordinated manner in the preparation and development of a project.
- Capacity to clearly and concisely present the results of one’s own work in writing in any of the three languages used in the master’s degree.
- Specific competences
- Capacity to design organic synthesis routes of medium complexity.
- Detailed knowledge about the most important synthesis methods in organic chemistry.
Teaching blocks
1 Introduction. Objectives of organic synthesis
2 Principles of retrosynthetic analysis
3 The synthon approach (I): achiral and chiral structural synthons. Methodology: formation of carbon–carbon and of carbon–heteroatom bonds by palladium and copper-catalysed cross-coupling reactions
4 The synthon approach (II): functional synthons. Methodology: creation of carbon–carbon and of carbon–heteroatom bonds by radical coupling reactions. Photoredox catalysis
5 Transform-based strategies. Tactical combinations of transforms. Methodology: domino and multicomponent reactions
Teaching methods and general organization
The course is taught in face-to-face lectures, with the support of computer-assisted presentations. Part of the methodology includes directed work. Students complete exercises of synthesis design proposing sequences discussed in class, while assessing the pros and cons of each proposal. Independent work is also important for consolidating conceptual competences and strengthening problem-solving skills.
Official assessment of learning outcomes
- Final examination (50%). It lasts three hours and takes place after class sessions are concluded. It is carried out face-to-face.
- Problems, questionnaires and/or submitted assignments (50%). At the beginning of the course, the lecturer assigns individually to the students two synthetic objectives for which they must propose a retrosynthetic analysis, a synthetic route and reagents and reaction conditions for each step based on bibliographic precedents. The deadline for the delivery of exercises and assignments is indicated when the exercise is announced.
To be eligible to pass the subject, students must have completed the final examination and delivered the directed learning activities.
If the weighted mark for the examination and the directed learning activities is equal to or higher than 5 out of 10, this mark is only considered if it improves the mark for the final exam. If it is lower than 5 out of 10, the final grade is calculated by weighting all assessed activities.
The final examination for continuous assessment is carried out at the end of the semester within the period established in the academic calendar.
Repeat assessment is scheduled after Easter. A minimum mark of 3.5 is required to be entitled to repeat assessment.
Students who wish to renounce continuous assessment must submit an official request not later than two days after the assignment of the synthetic objectives. The form is available on the Faculty’s website.
Single assessment consists of a single written exam worth 100% of the final grade. It lasts about four hours and consists of an extended version of the final exam for continuous assessment. It is carried out at the end of the semester within the period established in the academic calendar. Repeat assessment takes place in June. A minimum mark of 3.5 is required to be entitled to repeat assessment.
The final exams for both continuous and single assessment are carried out at the same time on a date before the Christmas break. The final examinations for continuous assessment and single assessment are not the same.
Reading and study resources
Corey, E. J. ; Cheng, X.-M. The logic of chemical synthesis. New York : Wiley, 1989
Fuhrhop, J.-H. ; Li, G. Organic synthesis : concepts, methods, starting materials. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2003
Nicolaou, K. C. ; Chen, J. S. Classics in Total Synthesis. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2011 (3 v.)
Hanessian, S.; Giroux, S.; Merner, B. L. Design and strategy in organic synthesis: from the Chiron approach to catalysis. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2013
Hoffmann, R. W. Elements of synthesis planning. Heidelberg : Springer, 2009
Hudlicky, Tomas ; Reed, Josephine W. The Way of Synthesis. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2007
Warren, S. G. ; Wyatt, P. Organic synthesis : the disconnection approach. 2nd ed. New York : Wiley, 2008
1a ed.