Current teaching activities
Course: Organic Chemistry (UNIL-106)
UNIL-Biology and UNIL-Pharmacy students, Bachelor semester 1, 70 hours
Objectives
- Give the fundamental tools to understand the reactivity of organic molecules: atomic structure, covalent bond, stereochemistry
- Acquire the basic notions of reactivity of organic molecules: functional groups, chemical transformations, reaction mechanisms
- Understand the structure, reactivity and function of natural and synthetic compounds of biological relevance
Content
Chemical bonds
- Atomic structure, atomic orbitals
- Covalent bond and bond polarization. Lewis model. VSEPR theory
- Hybridation, single bond, double and triple bond
- Molecular orbitals theory
Stereochemistry
- Chirality
- Enantiomers and diastereoisomers
Reactivity of the main classes of organic molecules
- Alcanes, alkyl halide
- Unsaturated hydrocarbons: alkenes and alkynes
- Alcohols
- Carbonyl compounds
- Carboxylic acids
Biomolecules
- Amino acids: properties and synthetic pathways
- Peptide synthesis
- Protein analysis
Course: Asymmetric Synthesis and Retrosynthesis (CH-335)
Retrosynthesis part / EPFL – SCGC students, Bachelor semester 6, 28 hours
Objectives
The synthesis of complex natural compounds and analogues requires the development of strategies and tactics for the efficient production of synthons (building blocks) and their assembly. Details of these synthetic approaches combined with a deep discussion on reactivity will be presented through examples from modern research.
Content
- Introduction
- Strategies and tactics
- Synthesis of polyketides, polypropionates, terpenes, peptides, carbohydrates and heterocycles
- Functionalization and assembly of synthons (examples from the literature)
Previous teaching activities
Course: Organic functions and reactions I
EPFL – SCGC students, Bachelor semester 2, 56 hours
Objectives
- Give the fundamental tools to understand the reactivity of organic molecules
- Acquire the basic notions of reactivity of organic molecules: functional groups, chemical transformations, reaction mechanisms
Content
Chemical Reactions
- Classification
- Selectivity
Alkanes
- Conformational analysis
- Radical halogenation
Nucleophilic substitutions and eliminations
- Determining factors and mechanisms for SN1, SN2, E1 and E2 reactions
- Reactivity of alkyl halides and alcohols
Electrophilic additions
- Mechanisms: regioselectivity and stereospecificity
- Reactivity of alkenes
- Selected reactions of alkynes
Nucleophilic additions
- Mechanisms
- Reactivity of carbonyles
Practical session: Preparative Chemistry I
EPFL – SCGC students, Bachelor semester 4, 7 days
Objectives
Apply basic reactivity in organic chemistry to the multi-step synthesis of polyfunctional molecules. Instruction on safety regulation in laboratories of chemical synthesis. Instruction on the planification and monitoring of simple synthetic pathways.
Content
- One mono- or two-steps synthesis
- One three steps synthesis
- Characterization of synthetic products by spectral analysis (NMR, IR, Mass)
- Redaction of scientific reports