Organic Chemistry

• Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds.
• Carbon atoms are versatile building blocks
  • 4 stable covalent bonds
• All of life is built on carbon
• Cells are made of
  • ~72% H2O
  • ~25% carbon compounds
    • Carbohydrates
    • Lipids
    • Proteins
    • Nucleic Acids
  • ~3% salts

Organic Chemistry Nomenclature

1 = Meth

2 = Eth

3 = Prop

4 = Bute

5+ = greek prefixes (penta, hexa, etc.)

Carbon and Multiple Bonding

• It can share four pairs of electrons in four covalent bonds.
• Carbon atoms can also form multiple bonds with other atoms including other carbon atoms.

Most Important Elemetns

• CHONPS
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Sulfur

Hydrocarbonds

Hydrocarbonds are combinations of carbons and hydrogens.

• Non-polar
  • Not soluble in water
  • Hydrophobic

Isomers

• Molecules with same molecular formula but different structures
  • Different chemical properties
  • Different biological functions
• Types of isomers
  • Structural isomers
  • Geometric isomers
    • Different spatial arrangement
• Examples
  • Glucose and galactose

Stereoisomers or Enantiomers

• Structural differences create important functional differences
  • Amino acid alanine
  • Medicines
    • Thalidomide
      • Prescribed to pregnant women in the 50s and 60s
      • Reduced morning suckness
      • Stereoisomer caused severe birth defects
  • Estrogen and testosterone