CM3221 - ORGANIC SYSTHESIS: THE DISCONNECTION APPROACH

Academic Year 23/24 - Semester 2

Assessments:

CA1: 25%
CA2: 25%
Finals: 50%

Lecturer(s) and Tutor(s): Prof Zhao Yu & A/P Koh Ming Joo

Course Overview:

Retrosynthesis techniques
Hetrocycle chemistry

Difficulty of the course: Difficult

Pace of the course: Too Slow

Duration provided to prepare for tutorials: 1-2 Days

Workload of Course (Average number of actual hours spent per week)

To learn the content: 2 hours

To complete assignments: 2 hours

REVIEW

What advice would you give to someone considering to take this course?

Flanders: After the removal of CM4274, this course is now the most advanced organic chemistry course for undergraduates. The course is divided into two halves. In the first half, Prof. Zhao Yu will teach retrosynthetic techniques. This portion is mainly a complete repeat of CM3121, with focus on enolate chemistry and pericyclic reactions. In the second half, A/P Koh will teach new content such as boron and silicon chemistry, stereo-electronic effects and heterocycle chemistry. The average exam contains 4 questions, each 20 marks. Each question just has a molecule, and you are to design a synthesis for it. Many answers will be accepted, you need not come up with the optimal route to score full marks. Some forward synthesis or mechanism questions may come out too.

What did you enjoy or find most useful from this course?

Flanders: You will enjoy this course if you like organic chemistry.

What resources did you find most helpful in helping you better understand the course material?

Flanders: Clayden

What other courses do you think should be taken before or concurrently with this course?

Flanders: Although not a pre-requisite on paper, you must take CM3121 before this course. The first half of CM3221 basically speed-runs the whole CM3121 syllabus (plus more) in half a semester.

Back to CM3221