Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds I

Module title	Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds I
Module code	BIO1345
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Mark Wood (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	60

Module description

Building on the principles of structure and reactivity of organic molecules studied at A-Level or equivalent, this module provides fundamental information on aspects of stereochemistry and the basics of addition, substitution and elimination reactions. Along with module BIO1347, this module provides the backbone of modern chemistry, enabling you to understand the chemical reactions that form the basis of synthetic routes to biologically important compounds such as pharmaceutical products and the chemistry of fundamental life processes. This module also enables you to progress to the study of pharmaceutical product development in the second and final years, the areas of highest potential employability for Biochemistry/Biological and Medicinal Chemistry graduates.

In order to study this module, you are required to have A-level Chemistry or equivalent.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module builds on the knowledge of the basic principles of organic chemistry gained at A-level (or equivalent). It aims initially to reinforce previous work and bridge between A-level and degree level, bringing all students to a common level of information and understanding. The module then will build on the principles of structure and reactivity of organic molecules, providing fundamental information on aspects of stereochemistry and the basics of addition, substitution and elimination reactions.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module, you are expected to develop the following skills:

Laboratory and data handling skills – an understanding of how standard analytical and synthetic techniques are used in organic chemistry, and the ability to interpret and analyse experimental results
Application of knowledge – being able to understand core aspects of organic chemistry and apply these to solve problems and explain experimental observations
People skills – working with your peers during group working sessions/classes

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Discuss, explain and illustrate, the basic structures of organic compounds and the covalent bonding within them, including stereochemical and conformational properties
2. Discuss and explain, the basic principles underlying reactions of organic compounds, including concepts of acidity and basicity
3. Discuss and explain, the basic reactivity and reactions of carbonyl compounds, alkyl halides and related compounds (substitution and elimination reactions) and alkenes/alkynes, with a mechanistic approach

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in organic chemistry
5. Evaluate the essential facts and theory in a sub-discipline of the chemical sciences
6. With some guidance, deploy established techniques of practical investigation, analysis and enquiry within the chemical sciences

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Communicate ideas effectively by written means
8. With some guidance, study autonomously

Syllabus plan

Introduction to Organic Molecules and Reactions:

Hybridisation of carbon and bonding in organic molecules
Drawing and the systematic naming of organic molecules
Brief overview of spectroscopic methods for structure analysis (mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Electronic effects in organic molecules (inductive and resonance), delocalisation and aromaticity
"Curly arrow" representation of reaction mechanisms
The origins of acidity and basicity in organic molecules

Basic Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds:

Nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group with common nucleophiles, including water, alcohols, hydride (from complex metal hydrides), cyanide and organometallic reagents
Nucleophilic addition/elimination reactions (amine nucleophiles with aldehydes and ketones and reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives)

Stereochemistry:

The concept of stereoisomerism and the classes of stereoismers (enantiomers and disatereoisomers)
Methods for assigning absolute configuration to chiral centres
Diastereoisomerism in alkenes
Dynamic stereochemistry/conformational analysis

Nucleophilic Substitution at sp³ Carbon and Elimination Reactions:

The S_N1 and S_N2 nucleophilic substitution mechanisms
Elimination reactions and the E1, E2 and E1cB mechanisms

Chemistry of Alkenes and Alkynes:

Basic reactions for the preparation of alkenes and alkynes
Reactions of alkenes and alkynes, particularly electrophilic addition reactions

Accessibility Statement:

As part of this module you will undertake laboratory sessions in the large teaching laboratory (of up to 80 students) that are of 3 hrs in duration. These sessions will be undertaken in groups of three students and they involve fine laboratory work, chemical handling (with appropriate PPE and safety considerations) and heating chemical reactions with high-temperature hotplates. Breaks are possible and students are able to leave the laboratory for short periods.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
43	107	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	28	Lectures (28 x 1 hour)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	15	Laboratory sessions (5 x 3 hours)
Guided Independent Study	65	Lecture consolidation, associated independent reading and reading for practical classes
Guided Independent Study	20	Coursework completion and writing practical reports
Guided Independent Study	22	Examination revision

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Revision class at end of module	1 hour	1-5	Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
40	60	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Examination	60	2 hours	1-5	Written
Problem sheet 1	10	1.5 hours	1-5	Written, model answers
Problem sheet 2	10	1.5 hours	3-5	Written, model answers
Practical report 1	10	900 words	All	Written and oral
Practical report 2	10	900 words	All	Written and oral
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Examination	Examination (60%)	1-11, 13-15	August Ref/Def
Problem sheet 1	Problem sheet 1 (10%)	1-4, 7, 12-15	August Ref/Def
Problem sheet 2	Problem sheet 2 (10%)	5-7, 13-15	August Ref/Def
Practical report 1	Interpretation of experimental data (10%)	All	August Ref/Def
Practical report 2	Interpretation of experimental data (10%)	All	August Ref/Def

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

J. Clayden, N. Greeves and S. Warren, Organic Chemistry, 2^nd edition, 2012, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-927029-3

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Module-specific ELE page - https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Organic chemistry, hybridisation and bonding, organic reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	4
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	24/04/2013
Last revision date	19/04/2024