Chemistry 652: Organometallic Chemistry
Spring 2013, University of Delaware
Syllabus
Lecture: Thursday, 7-10 PM, Brown Lab (BRL) 207
Professor Donald A. Watson
205 Lammot duPont
302-831-8728
dawatson@udel.edu
Office hour: By appointment.
Website: http://www.udel.edu/chem/dawatson/classes/Chem652_S13/Chem652_S13-home.html
Required Text:
Organotransition Metal Chemistry - From Bonding to Catalysis, Hartwig, J.
Recommend Texts (Optional):
th
The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals, 5 edition, Crabtree, R.
rd
Transition Metals in the Synthesis if Complex Organic Molecules, 3 Ed, Hegedus, L. S.
nd
Organometallic Chemistry, 2 Ed, Spessard G. O. and Miessler, G. L.
Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis, Astruc, D.
I have requested that all three of these texts reserve in the Chemistry Library this semester.
Grading:
Breakdown:
Midterm Exam 40%
Final Exam 40%
Problem Sets 20%
Approximate Class Outline (exact dates of topics may vary with class progress):
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Date
Feb 7
Feb 14
Feb 21
Feb 28
Mar 7
Mar 14
Mar 21
Mar 28
April 4
Lecture
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
10
11
12
13
14
Finals
April 11
April 18
April 25
May 2
May 9
TBD
Lecture 8
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 12
Lecture 7
Topic
History, Intro to Organometallic structure, Electron Counting, Ligand Classes
Electronic Structure and Bonding of Organometallics (MO)
Basic OM Reaction Mechanisms
Hydrogenation, Hydrosilylation
Hydroamination and other hydrofunctionalizations
Cat. C-H Activation
Midterm Exam
Spring Break
Carbonylation and Oxidation Chemistry (hydroformylation, Wacker, FisherTropsch, etc)
Cross-Coupling Reactions
Heck Reactions, Allylic Substitution Reactions
Olefin Polymerization, Metal Carbenes
Alkene Metathesis, Metal-Diazo Chemistry
Strained Ring Synthesis
Final Exam
Problem Sets:
There will be three problem sets assigned over this semester. Problem sets will be collected and graded for
completeness – full credit requires that you have competed the entire set. Individual answers will not be marked or
graded. A key will be posted on the course website after each problem set is turned in, you are responsible for
making sure that you understand the correct answers once the key is posted. You are free to work in study groups
when working on the problem sets, but each student must turn in their own work.
Do not use Beilstein, Scifinder or other search engines to look up answers on the homework unless specifically
asked. You will not have these tools when you take the exams (nor on interviews when you look for a job in a few
years), so you are best served by actually learning the material.
Problem sets will be due at the beginning of class on the day that is assigned. Late problem sets will not be
accepted as we may discuss the answers in class after it is due.
For problem sets, you will occasionally be asked to design synthetic routes to target compounds starting with
commercially available materials. For the purpose of this class, please limit these to chemicals that are listed in the
catalogs of Acros, Aldrich, Fisher, Strem, Alfa-Asear, or TCI. (These are the most common suppliers for academic
chemist).
Exams:
Exams will be closed book, closed note. Exams will cover lecture material, problem sets, assigned reading, as well
as current literature discussed in class.
Regrades:
All requests for regrades must be submitted in writing within 24 hours of the material being returned. Please note,
the entire exam will be regraded – if grading errors are found the final grades may be higher or lower than original
score. Also note, photocopies may be made prior to returning exams. If answers are altered, it will be obvious and
provable (see below).
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Not only is such behavior unethical, but also cheating in this class will
result in you not learning material that will be critical to your chosen career path. Simply put, learn this material; you
will need it to be a functional synthetic chemist. Please review the University of Delaware’s Academic Dishonestly
Policy, which can be found at http://www.udel.edu/stuguide/09-10/code.html#honesty. On assigned problem sets,
study groups are allowed, but each person must turn in their own work.
Plagiarism is as using someone else’s words or ideas without acknowledgment and most often results uncited
quoting or paraphrasing. Plagiarism is a serious form of academic dishonesty. For more information, please see:
http://www.english.udel.edu/wc/student/handouts/plagiarism.html
Important Online Resources:
UDel Chemistry Library Homepage: http://www2.lib.udel.edu/branches/chem.htm
Reaction and Structure Searching:
Scifinder: http://www2.lib.udel.edu/database/scifind.html
Reaxys: https://www.reaxys.com/reaxys/secured/start.do
Citation Searching:
Web of Science: http://apps.isiknowledge.com/
Chemical Suppliers (maybe useful on problem sets):
Aldrich: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/united-states.html
Acros: http://www.acros.com/