Organic Chemistry 2

Welcome to the Organic Chemistry 2 course, part of the series for the Pre-Health Sciences Training Certificate. This course and the certificate are designed primarily for learners interested in preparing for and gaining entry to health-related programs and to help address the prerequisites for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Our Organic Chemistry 2 course provides learners with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of chemistry. 

This course covers basic principles and concepts of Organic Chemistry, such as carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, synthesis, the reactivity and chemistry of enolates, and the techniques used for the separation of mixtures, among others. 

The Organic Chemistry 2 course is sponsored in part by the International Development Research Centre and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. Like all NextGenU.org courses, it is competency-based, using competencies based on the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Medical College Admission Test. It uses learning resources from accredited, academic, professional, and world-class organizations and universities, such as Rice University. This course was designed by Alixandria Ali, B.Sc.; Kabiru Gulma, B. Pharm, Ph.D. M.Sc., MBA; Sherian Bachan, M.Sc., B.Sc.; Marco Aurelio Hernandez, Ph.D., MSc; MSc; BSc.; and Felix Emeka Anyiam, MPH, MScPH, DataSc.

For publications on the efficacy of NextGenU.org’s courses, see NextGenU.org’s publication page.

There are seven (7) modules to complete, which provide an introduction to:

Module 1: Carboxylic Acids
Module 2: Aldehydes and Ketones
Module 3: Enolate Chemistry and Aldols
Module 4: Aromatic Systems and Amines
Module 5: Nitrogen-and Phosphorus-Containing Compounds
Module 6: Spectroscopy
Module 7: Separations and Purifications

The completion time for this course is estimated at 69 hours, comprising 21 hours of learning resources, 41 hours of studying and assimilation of the content, and 7 hours of participating in learning activities and quizzes to assist learners in synthesizing learning materials. This course is equivalent to 1 credit hour in the U.S. undergraduate/bachelor’s degree system.

The course requires the completion of all quizzes, discussion forums, and practical activities to receive a course certificate. Practice quizzes are available throughout the course and contain ten multiple-choice questions each. After completing each module, quiz, and learning activity, at the end of the course, you will have access to a final exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions and a chance to evaluate this course. Participants have up to three opportunities to take the final exam and achieve the required passing score of >=70%. Once you have passed the final exam and completed the evaluations, you can download a certificate of completion from NextGenU.org and our course’s co-sponsoring organizations. 

We keep your personal information confidential, never sell any of your information, and only use anonymized data for research purposes. Also, we are happy to report your testing information and share your work with anyone (your school, employer, etc.) at your request. 

Engaging with this Course:

This free course is for students who have graduated from high school and want to prepare to become a health professional and/or pass the MCAT exam. You may also browse this free course for your personal enrichment. There are no requirements. 

To obtain a certificate, a learner must first register for the course and then successfully complete the following:

• The pre-test,
• All the reading requirements,
• All quizzes and pass with 70% with unlimited attempts,
• All learning activites,
• The final exam with a minimum of 70% and a maximum of 3 attempts, and 
• The self and course evaluation forms.

To obtain credit:

• Complete all requirements listed above for the certificate, and
• Your learning institution or workplace should approve the partner-university-sponsored NextGenU.org course for educational credit, as they usually would for their learner taking a course anywhere.

NextGenU.org is happy to provide your institution with the following:

• A link to the description of the course training so they can see all of its components, including the co-sponsoring institution,
• Your grade on the final exam,
• Your work products (e.g., discussion forum responses) and any other required or optional shared materials you produce and authorize to share with them,
• Your evaluations -- course and self-assessments, and 
• A copy of your certificate of completion with the co-sponsoring organizations listed.

To obtain a degree, NextGenU.org co-sponsors degree programs with institutional partners. To obtain a full degree co-sponsored with NextGenU.org, registrants must be enrolled in a degree program as a student of a NextGenU.org institutional partner. If you think your institution might be interested in offering a degree with NextGenU.org, contact us.

We hope you will find this a rewarding learning experience, and we count on your assessment and feedback to help us improve this training for future students.

Here are the next steps to take the course and earn a certificate:

• Complete the registration form,
  
• Take the pre-test, and 
• Begin the course with Module 1: Carboxylic Acids. In each lesson, read the description, complete all required readings and any required activity, as well as take the corresponding quizzes.

Instructional Goals covered in this module:

• Understand the structure, composition, synthesis, reactivity, and nomenclature of carboxylic acids.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Compare the physical properties and reactivity of carboxylic acids.
• Describe the reaction mechanisms that demonstrate the processes by which carboxylic acids are synthesized.
  
• Identify common reactions of carboxylic acids.
  
• Describe the sequences to synthesize and transform carboxylic acids from starting materials to demonstrate an understanding of carboxylic acid reactions.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the underlying cause of the relatively high acidity of carboxylic acids.
• Predict the effects of additional substituents on the acidity of a carboxylic acid.
  
• Rank the acidity of comparable carboxylic acids based on their structure.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Apply the IUPAC rules for naming carboxylic acid derivatives, including the nomenclature for the cyclic version of the molecule.
• Identify the reactant types used in acyl substitution reactions to form the major carboxylic acid derivatives, such as amides and esters.
  
• Describe the mechanism of nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions.
  
• Identify the conditions that would lead to spontaneous decarboxylation of a carboxylic acid.
  
• Predict the products of an acyl substitution reaction.
  
• Order carboxylic acid derivatives (anhydrides, esters, and amides) based on their reactivity.
  
• Explain how strong acid and strong base conditions would impact the mechanism of hydrolysis of an amide.
  
• Identify the nucleophile and electrophile within nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Identify the species that act as nucleophiles and electrophiles in aldol condensations.
• Describe a condensation reaction.
  
• List the reaction types associated with aldol condensation.
  
• Describe the conditions, reactants, and products involved in a retro-aldol reaction.
  
• Identify an alpha carbon.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Identify the role of the beta hydroxide group in the general mechanism for an aldol addition reaction.
• Describe the general mechanism for decarboxylation of beta-carboxy ketone or aldehyde.
  
• Identify the three steps (deprotonation or decarboxylation, attack, leaving/ collapse groups) involved with the Claisen condensation reaction.
  
• Describe the two steps (attack and collapse/ leaving groups) involved in the retro-Claisen reaction.
  
• Illustrate the general mechanism for conjugation addition (of a carbon nucleophile for a Michael addition) and beta-elimination reactions.
  
• Describe the general mechanism for the carboxylation of an enolate.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Instructional Goals covered in this module:

• Understand the structure, composition, synthesis, reactivity, and nomenclature of aldehydes and ketones and the nomenclature of physical and chemical properties of aldehydes and ketones.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Name and draw the structure of aldehydes and ketones using IUPAC rules.
• Describe the physical properties and reactivity of aldehydes and ketones.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the use of PCC and Jones' reagents for the oxidation of 1º- and 2º-alcohols and their conversion to aldehydes and ketones.
• Explain the mechanism of Friedel-Crafts' acylation of aromatic compounds.
  
• Explain the reaction mechanisms for the synthesis of cleaved aldehydes and ketones from the hydroxylation of alkenes (reaction with osmium tetroxide or permanganate) of the vicinal glycols.
  
• Explain the synthesis and reaction mechanism of ozonolysis of alkenes to form an aldehyde product.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the formation of stable hydrates and hemiacetals from adding water to aldehydes and ketones.
• .Explain the reaction mechanisms and distinguish the formation of acetals by the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with two equivalents of alcohol and the elimination of water.
  
• Explain the formation of imine derivatives from the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with ammonia or 1º-amines (Schiff bases).
  
• Break down the formation of enamine and cyanohydrin from the reaction of aldehydes and ketones with 2º-amines and hydrogen cyanide, respectively.
  
• Deduce the products formed by the reduction of aldehydes and ketones by complex metal hydrides and by adding organometallic reagents.
  
• Break down the reaction products and mechanisms for the reduction of aldehydes and ketones.
  
• Outline the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids using oxidizing agents.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Instructional Goals covered in this module:

• Understand the synthesis, reactivity, and chemistry of enolates.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the acidic nature of α-hydrogens on aldehydes and ketones.
• Compare the acidity of the α-hydrogens of aldehydes to those of ketones.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Describe the relationship between steric hindrance and reactivity.
• Define tautomerization and draw basic and acidic tautomerizations.
  
• Identify the thermodynamically favored tautomer of an aldehyde or ketone.
  
• Predict the role of an enolate carbanion in a reaction.
  
• Describe the conditions that favor keto and enol forms.
  
• Describe alpha carbon reaction mechanisms incorporating enols for neutral/ acidic reactions and enolates for basic reactions.
  
• Determine if a kinetic or thermodynamic enolate will form based on reaction conditions.
  
• Describe kinetic and thermodynamic enolate reaction mechanisms.
  
• Describe mechanisms for halogenation at alpha carbon and direct enolate alkylation.
  

Click here to start this lesson

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Understand diastereoselection.
• Describe the role of Boron enolates in aldol reactions.
  
• Understand the Mukaiyama aldol reaction.
  

Click here to start this lesson