| Prof. Irvin J. Levy Office Hours: MWF, 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM M, 2:10-3:10 T 11:30-12:30, 4:15-5:15 or by appointment |
This semester we will expand our intitial understanding of green chemistry by producing outreach projects to enhance green chemistry literacy for others.
TEXTS

1. Organic Chemistry, 11th ed., Graham Solomons & Craig Fryhle
2. The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual, 9th ed., Zubrick
(Recommended) Study Guide to Organic Chemistry, 11th ed., Solomons & Fryhle
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
1. Bound notebook for laboratory
2. Safety goggles as required by Department
3. Protective gloves
(Recommended) Darling Flexible Stereochemical Models
MODES OF EVALUATION
Organic Chemistry is very much like a language. As with any language, mastery is only possible with regular practice. Accordingly, homework assignments following the enclosed Class Schedule will be given daily. It is expected that the assignment will be completed before the next lecture. Homework will be assigned to help clarify important concepts; however, homework will not be collected and will not directly affect the course grade. Homework does, of course, affect the grade in that it is unlikely that the course content can be mastered without significant practice. Self-evaluation of homework will be possible through the use of the Study Guide.
A brief quiz covering recent lecture material will normally be given at the beginning of every other class period. The first quiz will occur on the fourth day of class. Regular attendance is, thus, necessary to achieve success in the course. The three lowest quiz scores will be discarded when calculating the final quiz score. Make-up quizzes will not be administered under any circumstances. All quizzes are closed-book, closed notes.
Since the ability to communicate effectively is a key to success in scientific endeavors, a service-learning assignment (the Green Organic Literacy forum, or GOLum) is an important element in this course. GOLum will engage a team of several students in the preparation of a useful end product to communicate the principles of green chemistry to an audience external to this course. Due to the complexity of this project, several intermediate milestones are due (sse below). Failure to observe these due dates will result in a one-half letter grade reduction in the final project grade for each milestone missed.
Three Opportunities will be administered on the dates
The final examination will be a multiple choice standardized American Chemical Society examination which is cumulative over both courses.
Any student scoring at the national 90th percentile or higher on the this exam will automatically receive a grade of A in the course provided
all laboratory work has also been completed. The study guide for this examination is available for purchase
from the ACS at this link.
Laboratory work will be assessed in the following way. A student is expected to attend all labs (or makeup assignment if missed through excusable
absence), properly utilize a laboratory notebook (which will be subject to examination without notice), show evidence of preparation for lab
(through lab quizzes, flowcharts, etc.), and strictly adhere to all chemical hygiene rules. It is usually very difficult to make up missed labs,
thus it is essential that lab attendance be very faithful. The lab grade begins at 100% and will be decreased by 10% for each nonperformance of the
expected standards. After a one time grace period (no penalty), upon violation of a chemical hygiene rule, the student will be asked to leave the
lab for the remainder of the class period. This will result in two reductions to the lab grade (chemical hygiene violation, nonexcused absence).
Laboratory notebooks will be prepared by the student and will be assessed by a combination of self-evaluation and peer-evaluation (neither of which
will affect the actual grade in the course) and by evaluation by the lab instructor. Students who perform all laboratory work, observe all chemical
safety regulations, and maintain an acceptable laboratory notebook will receive full credit for laboratory effort (representing 67% of the lab
grade). During the final laboratory session, a laboratory examination will be administered. The score on this examination represents 33% of the
lab grade.
GREEN ORGANIC LITERACY FORUM (GOLum) ASSIGNMENT
Last semester was a time to gather with a team and develop a plan for a GOLum project. This semester you will bring your project to
completion. Several important dates apply to the various milestones in the project. The timely submission of all items is essential to success in the project.
Details of the milestones follow. Milestones will only be accepted electronically (unless previously arranged) by submission to green-chem@gordon.edu with all
needed files attached. All milestones are due no later than 5pm on the due date. Submissions received after the 5pm deadline will be penalized.
Milestones
In this milestone all of the members of your team will gather with the professor to discuss current
status of the project, assess accomplishments, and clarify the tasks that remain. Every member of the team must
attend this 15-20 minute meeting which will be scheduled in advance.
In this milestone you will report the following:
Based on the purpose of your project, you need to develop specific expertise in green chemistry as well as having general
knowledge of the topic. In this assignment you are to compile resources (books, articles, web resources, people, etc.) that can be used
to support your outreach and to provide your "training" as you prepare to reach out. Include
a descriptive entry for every web site, article, book, handout, or person (other than your team members or your professor) that is
relevant to your project. Note: this is a very individualized milestone.
You are to resubmit your Team Report (from the previous milestone) noting what tasks have been accomplished and altering the timeline
as needed. Add a paragraph that clearly states change in the report from the previous version and the reason for those changes.
During the months of March and April, projects will be nearing completion. Teams will need peer support to complete their projects. For
example, if students produce a video, they will need others to critique their script or raw footage; if students produce written materials,
they will need others to critique their written work; if students prepare new lab activities, they will need others to test their activities;
if students are visiting a high school, they will need an audience on our campus to run a "dress rehearsal".
Each student in the class will be required to perform two (2) critiques in support of their peers. In order for a critique to count, the student must
first confirm (verbally) with the professor that the critique is permitted (for example, I can't have 20 people critique the same video!). Unless otherwise
directed, credit is received when the student sends a WRITTEN critique to all members of the team along with a copy to green-chem@gordon.edu. In order to
receive credit, the written critique must be submitted within seven (7) days of the peer review.
Your team will submit a white 1" binder containing the following:
ASSIGNMENT WEIGHTS
Final grades will be computed as follows:
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Make-up quizzes are not administered under any circumstances. Ever.
You are always welcome to request the quiz that you missed and
you will always be able to receive feedback after you attempt the questions. You just won't receive credit.
If you had several unavoidable absences on quiz days you are encouraged to bring this to the professor's attention
at the end of the course. If your final grade will be changed by dropping an additional "low
score" then that may be possible.
Make-up examinations will be allowed only if the absence is previously cleared
with the instructor or in the event of an emergency. In the case of illness, a
written note from the health care provider is required. In the case of a personal
emergency, a note from the Center for Student Development is required.
Academic dishonesty is regarded as a major violation of both the
academic and spiritual principles of this community and may result in a
failing grade or suspension. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism,
(see Plagiarism in Student Handbook), cheating (whether in or out of the
classroom), and abuse or misuse of library materials when such abuse or
misuse can be related to course requirements.
Gordon College policy states that for each semester hour of credit, students should expect to spend a minimum of
2-3 hours per week outside of class in engaged academic time. This time includes reading, writing, studying,
completing assignments, lab work, or group projects, among other activities.
Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations are asked to
speak with the instructor within the first two weeks of class. Students
are also responsible for making sure that documentation of the
disability is on file in the Academic Support Center. Failure to
register in time with the leader and the ASC may compromise our ability
to provide the accommodation.
GRADE COMPUTATION
USB data drive with relevant documents, handouts, photos, and copy of all of the following materials 1 USB drive Name of project and team members
Brief bio statements (with photos) and abstract1 page maximum Description of the audience, including total number directly reached about 1 page Description of the presentation forum about 1 page Mirror: Copies of all material presented for the audience variable, 5-15 pages Final annotated bibliography variable, 1-10 pages Final action plan 1-2 pages Written critiques from peers 1-3 pages Your own critique, analysis of outcomes, suggestions for future work 1-2 pages
Scores on graded materials are not curved unless otherwise indicated.
10% - Opportunity #1
10% - Opportunity #2
10% - Opportunity #3 (final exam week)
10% - Final examination (curved)
20% - Quizzes (drop three low scores)
20% - GOLum
20% - Laboratory (includes lab exam)
A+ >97 B+ (87-90] C+ (77-80] D+ (67-70]
A (93 - 97] B (83-87] C (73-77] D (63-67]
A- (90 - 93] B- (80-83] C- (70-73] D- (60-63]
Jan 20 Syllabus Welcome
11.1-6,10 Alcohols: Synthesis & Reactions involving the O-H bond
Homework:
TBA
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*** GOLum Team Meetings w/Professor this week
Jan 23 11.7-9,11,13 Alcohols: Reactions involving the R-O bond
Ethers: Synthesis
Homework:
TBA
LAB, Jan 24 Reaction facts and multistep synthesis
Team project - no prelab preparation required
Bring Reaction Fact sheets from last semester and chapter 11
Jan 25 11.12,14,15,17 Ether: Reactions
Homework:
TBA
Jan 27 12.1-3 (skip 12.3D) Introduction to organic redox reactions
Reductions: Alcohols from carbonyl compounds
Homework:
TBA
---------------------
*** GOLum Milesone #2 Due January 30
Team Report, one per team, emailed to green-chem@gordon.edu
Jan 30 12.4 (skip 12.4AB) Oxidations: Synthesis of carbonyl compounds.
Homework:
12.3, 12.5abcd, 12.14, 12.17, 12.18abde, 12.19, 12.25
LAB, Jan 31 Sodium borohydride reduction of a ketone: Preparation of meso-hydrobenzoin
handout
Feb 1 12.5-8 The Grignard Reaction
Homework:
TBA
Feb 3 Chapter concluded
Homework:
Take home quiz distributed - Synthetic Interlude
---------------------
Feb 6 13.1-4 Conjugated Unsaturated Systems
The Game of Resonance
--- Take Home Quiz Collected ---
Homework:
13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5
LAB, Feb 7 MULTISTEP SYNTHESIS - WEEK #1
benzyl alcohol --> benzaldehyde
handout
Feb 8 13.5-7, 13.9 Conjugated Unsaturated Systems: Conjugated Dienes
Homework:
13.6, 13.9, 13.13, 13.14, 13.32, 13.33
Feb 10 13.9-10 Dienes and the Diels-Alder Reaction
Homework:
13.14, 13.15, 13.16, 13.39, 13.40, 13.43
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*** GOLum Milesone #3 Due February 13
Annotated Bibliography & Revised Team Report
one per team, emailed to green-chem@gordon.edu
Feb 13 14.1-4 Aromaticity, introduced
Homework:
14.1, 14.16abcdefghjkmnpqr
LAB, Feb 14 MULTISTEP SYNTHESIS - WEEK #2
benzaldehyde --> benzoin (two ways)
Check email for handout
Feb 15 14.5, 14.6A Aromaticity, Chemical definition
Feb 17 14.7B, 14.7D, Aromaticity, Hückel's Rules
14.8-14.10
Homework:
14.12, 14.18, 14.21, 14.22
Take-Home Quiz (due on Monday)
---------------------
Feb 20 15.1-5 Reactions of aromatic compounds, Introduction
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution:
Halogenation, Nitration, Sulfonation, Desulfonation
--- Take Home Quiz collected ---
Homework:
15.1
LAB, Feb 21 MULTISTEP SYNTHESIS - WEEK #3
benzoin --> benzil (two ways)
Check email for handout
Feb 22 15.6-10 Reactions of aromatic compounds: Alkylation & Acylation
Homework:
Prepare for Opportunity
Feb 24 --- * * * OPPORTUNITY #1 * * *
Covers Chapters 11-14
---------------------
Feb 27 15.10 Reactions of aromatic compounds: Polysubstitution
Homework:
15.3, 15.4, 15.5abc, 15.22c
LAB, Feb 28 MULTISTEP SYNTHESIS - WEEK #4
benzil --> 6-nitro-2,3-diphenylquinoxaline (two ways)
Procedure A. handout
Procedure B. Check email for handout
Mar 1 15.11,13 Reactions of aromatic compounds, continued
Homework:
15.8, 15.28, 15.29, 15.30
Mar 3 15.14-15 Reactions of aromatic compounds, continued
Homework:
15.31abcefg, 15.38, 15.51
---------------------
Mar 6 16 Aldehydes and ketones I.
Nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group
LAB, Mar 7 Greener Aromatic Nitration
check email for handout
Mar 8 16 Aldehydes and ketones I. continued...
Homework:
16.3, 16.4abcd, 16.5, 16.5, 16.12, 16.22abdej
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!!! Spring Break !!!
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Mar 20 16 Aldehydes and ketones I. concluded...
Wolff-Kishner Reduction, Link 1
Link 2
Homework:
TBA
LAB, Mar 21 Synthesis Team Projects
Introduction and First Steps
Selection of projects and teams
Project ideas
Mar 22 17 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives
Homework:
TBA
Mar 23 17 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives. continued...
Homework:
17.1abcd, 17.3, 17.4abdhi, 17.5, 17.6, 17.18abcd, 17.21
---------------------
Mar 27 17 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives. continued...
Homework:
TBA
LAB, Mar 28 Team Projects begin
Mar 29 17 Carboxylic acids and their derivatives. concluded.
Homework:
TBA
--- OPPORTUNITY #2 Distributed ----
(Take-Home)
Mar 31 No lecture
GOLum Work Time
---------------------
Apr 3 Time released for Opportunity #2
LAB, Apr 4 NMR Video
Reading and Homework:
Solomons 9.1-9.4, 9.6-9.9C, 9.9E
9.1, 9,2, 9.4, 9.6, 9.9, 9.10, 9.25, 9.38 (great practice!)
NMR Homework - Due as separate portion of Op#2
Apr 5 No lecture
GOLum Work Time
Apr 7 18 Enolate Chemistry, Part 1
* * * OPPORTUNITY #2 Collected * * *
---------------------
Apr 10 18.1 - 18.3C, Enolate Chemistry, Part 1. concluded.
18.5 - 18.8,
18.10 (except rxn 9)
Homework:
18.7, 18.8, 18.9, 18.12, 18.15, 18.19b,
18.21, 18.33a, 18.33b
LAB, Apr 11 Continue Team Projects
Apr 12 19 Enolate Chemistry, Part 2
Homework:
TBA
Apr 14 --- Easter Break
---------------------
Apr 17 --- Easter Break
LAB, Apr 18 Continue Team Projects
Apr 19 19 Enolate Chemistry, Part 2. concluded.
Homework:
TBA
Apr 21 20 Amines
---------------------
Apr 24 20 Amines. concluded.
LAB, Apr 25 Complete Team Projects
Preparation for poster presentation
Apr 26 21 Phenols and Aryl Halides
Apr 28 21 Phenols and Aryl Halides. concluded.
---------------------
May 1 --- No lecture today.
GOLum group meeting - Assign final binder tasks
LAB, May 2 --- Lab Exam (oral); times assigned in advance
Check-out
May 3 --- * * * OPPORTUNITY #3 * * *
May 5 --- *** GOLum Milesone #5
GOLum Binders Due, Summary Reports to Class
---------------------
May 8 TBA Special Topics
May 9 --- No lab
Extended office hours
May 10 Conclusion
Discussion of final
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Tuesday, May 16, Noon - 2:00 PM * * * FINAL EXAMINATION * * *