SCC0660 - PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC SYNTESIS

courses

ID:

SCC0660

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

CHIMICA ORGANICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to introduce some techniques and principles of organic synthesis even with a more applicative nature after having absorbed the fundamental concepts transmitted in the courses of basic organic chemistry. In this course we plan to tackle some topics that lead to broadening the knowledge through some themes that concern aspects of particular innovation in the field of organic synthesis and that are the subject of recent publications in the scientific literature. New transformations of functional groups and the transmission of a certain elasticity to the problem solving in organic synthesis are the main aims of the course. Aim of the course is the introduction of concepts and principles that are used in the reasoning modality of a synthetic organic chemist: retrosynthetic approach, protection of functional groups, ecc. EXPECTED LEARNING RESULTS At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1. apply the concepts learned also in previous organic chemistry courses in the context of organic synthesis 2. prepare derivatives with high added value. 3. understand innovative synthesis techniques which are of particular importance also in current scientific literature such as the use of multicomponent reactions, combinatorial chemistry, asymmetric syntheses, unconventional methods (microwave, ultrasound, etc.) and flow chemistry. 4. discuss particularly current cases concerning ethical aspects in the context of scientific publications. 5. analyze some examples of ethically incorrect conduct, plagiarism and more 6. determine the best conditions through which it is possible to adopt the use of protective groups by evaluating the best conditions of orthogonality for their removal 7. consider the different concepts of selectivity in the context of organic synthesis 8. reason in detail about possible retrosynthetic approaches using some key concepts in the logic of organic synthesis. 9. evaluate the reactivity of particularly important chemical species such as radicals, carbenes and carbenoids 10. define some aspects related to stereoelectronic characteristics

Course Prerequisites

Prerequisite of the course are simply the knowledge of the fundamentals aspects of the organic chemistry, acquired during the main theoretical and laboratory courses attended during the three-year degree. Some of the main rules observed in the basic courses will be reviewed, but the course content will be set exclusively to the application to the synthesis.

Teaching Methods

The course will be articulated through a series of lectures on the different topics covered in the program and with a series of powerpoint file presentations. Particular emphasis may be devoted to the illustration, study, analysis and discussion of some scientific publications. The classroom debate allows the student to make a self-assessment of their own learning and, at the same time, allows the teacher to check the progress of the students' knowledge. A part of the teaching is dedicated to solving problems and exercises in the classroom. Generally at the end of each topic some short sessions of exercises are carried out. These sessions take about 4-6 hours, but can obviously be implemented at the request of the students.

Assessment Methods

The final exam is based on a written test with open questions, exercises and problems on the topics covered in the course and carried out during the lessons. The duration of the written test is 2.5-3 hours after which the student achieves a final evaluation. For open questions, the following are positively evaluated: -depth analysis of the answer - the ability to organize knowledge discursively; - rigor and argumentative originality; -the ability of critical reasoning on the study carried out; - the quality of the exhibition, the competence in the use of specialist vocabulary, the effectiveness and linearity of the topics and methods exposed Honors are reserved for students who show a thorough knowledge of the topics covered and a remarkable ability to rework them by applying the theories learned to individual problems.

Introduction to the Organic Synthesis (2h). Retrosynthesis (concepts, principles, examples and applications (8h). Chemoselectivity (2h). Protecting Groups (protection and deprotection of functional groups in organic synthesis, peptide synthesis) (8h). Rearrangement reactions and Fragmentation processes (8h). Asymmetric Synthesis (chiral auxiliares, chiral catalysts, chiral pool e organocatalysis) (6h). Concepts of Green Chemistry (12 Principles by Anastas and Warner) (4h). Process Chemistry and Intensification in Organic Synthesis (Combinatorial Chemistry, Flow Chemistry) (2h). Multicomponent Reactions (2h). Outline of radical and carbenoid reactivity (2h). Brief introduction to stereoelectronic effects (2h). Special topics (scientific literatures, plagiarism, ethical conduct and misconduct, mistakes and experimental errors) (2h).

Course Language

Italian

More information

The lecturer is available to more details and clarifications on any requests made by the students receiving at his office by previous contact via email: andrea.penoni@uninsubria.it or by phone (031-2386440).