Organic Chemistry II: Foundations of Chemical Reactivity and Synthesis

This course begins by discussing the chemical consequences of conjugation and the Diels-Alder reaction. After a coverage of aromaticity and the chemistry of benzene, we then move into the heart of the course: the nature and reactivity of the carbonyl group, a subject that is central to both mainstream organic chemistry and biochemistry. Throughout this course, an effort will be made to demystify the art of chemical synthesis. This course is appropriate for chemistry majors, premedical students, and other students with an interest in organic chemistry and its central position in the life sciences.