CHEM 2411: Organic Chemistry I
Instructor: Dr. Boatright
email: dboatrig@westga.edu
Office: TLC 2118
Phone: (678) 839-6028
Office Hours: M 10-11, 1-2; T 2-4; W 9-11, 1-2; R 9-12, 2-4
You must email me from your myUWG account or I will not respond.
Required Textbook: “Organic Chemistry” by John McMurry, 8th Edition
We will be utilizing iClicker technology. Therefore, you will need to purchase an iClicker from the bookstore for ~$35
and bring it to class every day. We will be using Sapling as our site for online homework. You can find the information
on how to register through the following link http://bit.ly/saplinginstructions. This course should appear as University of
West Georgia - CHEM 2411 - Spring16 - BOATRIGHT.
Grading:
Clicker
Homework
Exams
15%
15%
70%
The final will be the American Chemical Society standardized test which will cover the entire semester. A standard 10
point scale will be used (90 and above – A, 80-89 – B, etc.). No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam for
any reason your final exam score will replace that exam. No extra time will be given for exams, so please arrive on time.
No extra credit will be offered. Cheating will not be tolerated. Any infraction will be taken before the disciplinary
committee and played out to the fullest extent.
Syllabus Spring 2016:
Chapter:
Title:
1
2
3
4
Structure and Bonding
Polar Covalent Bonds: Acids and Bases
Organic Compounds: Alkanes and Their Stereochemistry
Organic Compounds: Cycloalkanes and Their Stereochemistry
Exam I
5
6
7
Tuesday, February 2
Stereochemistry at Tetrahedral Centers
An Overview of Organic Reactions
Alkenes: Structure and Reactivity
Exam II
8
9
10
Thursday, February 25
Alkenes: Reactions and Synthesis
Alkynes: An Introduction to Organic Synthesis
Organohalides
Exam III
11
12
14
Tuesday, March 29
Reactions of Alkyl Halides: Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations
Structure Determination: Mass Spectrometry and Infrared Spectroscopy
Conjugated Dienes and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy
Exam IV
Final Exam
Thursday, April 21
Thursday, April 28, 11:00 – 1:00
Learning Outcomes
1. Reason and think analytically in solving problems and making decisions in matters involving organic chemistry. Attainment of
this learning outcome will be reflected by the student’s ability to:



Select reagents to accomplish appropriate functional group transformation.
Draw the product of a chemical reaction.
Indicate the appropriate stereochemistry of organic molecules.
2. Apply a basic understanding of the systematic methods of scientific inquiry, principles and procedures to investigate problems.
Attainment of this learning outcome will be reflected by the student’s ability to:


Describe the mechanism of particular organic reactions.
Analyze IR, NMR and Mass Spectral signals to determine the structure of unknown organic molecules.
3. To communicate organic chemistry with clarity.
Successfully complete written and oral assignments, and examinations.
How to Study Organic Chemistry
You should start by familiarizing yourself with the textbook. Read the author’s preface to see what is included in the text
and what other resources are available for help. Look at the appendices to see what information is contained there for
later use.
You should prepare for lecture by reading ahead. You may not understand all of the material, but it will familiarize you
with new terms and structures and by doing this lecture will become much more beneficial.
As soon as possible after lecture you should review your lecture notes and read the portion of the textbook covered in
lecture. While reading the chapter, work the in-chapter problems. Only continue reading when you completely
understand the problems. Organic chemistry builds on itself and if you do not understand a topic now it will only make
later topics more difficult.
When you have completed the portion of the chapter covered by lecture proceed to work the online homework problems
immediately. These problems are an excellent barometer to determine whether you understand the material. Treat the
homework problems as if they are test questions and do not look elsewhere for help. If you can work the problems
without looking anywhere else for help then you know and understand the material. If you cannot do the problem without
help then you need to stop doing homework and reread the pertinent area of the textbook and lecture notes until you are
ready to try the problem again. You will learn more by sticking with a problem to finally solve it than by looking for the
solution. Chemistry is best learned by doing, so work as many additional problems as you can.
Write as you study. It is not sufficient to just study with your eyes. You must also study with your hand by drawing
structures and mechanisms over and over. It may also be beneficial to you to keep note cards of the different reactions
you encounter. Over the course of two semesters you will learn many reactions and the note cards will help you “catalog”
all of this information.
You must keep up. This course will move quickly and if you are not studying daily then you will find it to be quite
difficult. Do not memorize. There is a large amount of material which makes it impossible to memorize it all. It is better
to understand why each thing happens. Also, because of the volume of information you will see you will not find success
by “cramming.” If you do not start studying until the week of the test I guarantee you will not be successful. You may
also find study groups to be helpful. When you teach and explain topics to your fellow students you will find that you
learn those topics even better.
Finally, make good use of all of your resources. The companion site for our textbook contains additional problems and
explanations that are very helpful. You can also make good use of your lab time by asking your lab instructors questions.
They should be more than willing to help. In addition, do not hesitate to use my office hours. These hours are set aside
for you, so take full advantage.