The City College of New York

Department of Chemistry
Chemistry 26100: Organic Chemistry I
Section: AB
Lecture: M and W 8:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Dr. Issa Salame
(212) 650 – 6924
Office Location: MR1224
[email protected]

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Catalog Description:
An introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds, current interpretation of the reactions
and properties of these compounds.

Prerequisites: Chem 10401 or 10400

Co-requisites:

Hours/Credits: 4 per week, 3 hours lecture, 1 hour recitation, 3 credits

Textbook: Organic Chemistry, David Klein, Third Edition, Wiley, 2017.

Molecular models: (Dr. Darling’s) are available in the bookstore and on the internet
(http://www.darlingmodels.com/KIT #1 ISBN 0-9648837-1-6).

Course objectives:
This course is the first of a two-semester sequence. The objective of the course is to
provide introduction to organic chemistry, via discussion of reactivity, key reaction mechanisms,
retrosynthetic analysis, and structure determination via IR, NMR, and MS spectroscopies. The
course strives to enhance the critical thinking and the problem solving skills of the students.

Department
After completing this course students should know: outcomes
1. Lewis structures, resonance forms, acid/base theories, orbital a, b
hybridization and geometry of molecules, functional groups,
constitutional isomers, cis/trans isomers.

2. IUPAC nomenclature of alkanes, Newman projection formulas, a, b

cycloalkane conformations, cis/trans isomers of cycloalkanes.

3. Recognize and write structures for chiral and achiral molecules, a, b

(R) and (S) configurations, racemates, enantiomers,
diastereomers, meso compounds, Fisher projection formulas.

4. Mechanism of SN1, SN2, E1 and E2 reactions. Predict the a, b

products of the substitution and elimination reactions including
stereochemistry.

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5. Predict the products of carbocation rearrangements, dehydration, a, b
dehydrohalogenation and dehalogenation reactions.

6. Predict the products of additions, oxidations, reductions and a, b

cleavages of alkenes, including regiochemistry and
stereochemistry. Acetylide ions in the synthesis of alkynes.

7. Predict the products of additions, oxidations, reductions and a, b

cleavages of alkynes. Predict the products of hydration,
hydroboration, and hydroxylation of alkenes. Use Grignard and
organolithium reagents for the synthesis of alcohols. Reaction of
alcohols and pinacol rearrangement of diols.

8. Predict the mechanism and products of radical reactions a, b

9. Do retrosynthetic analysis to solve multistep synthesis problems a, b

10. Interpret simple infrared and mass spectra. Use the information a, b
derived from the IR and MS spectra to propose a tentative
structure for an unknown organic compound.

Topics covered:
1. Carbon Compounds and Chemical Bonds
2. Representative Carbon Compounds: Functional Groups, Infrared Spectroscopy, &
Intermolecular Force
3. An Introduction to Organic Reactions: Acids and Bases
4. Alkanes: Nomenclature, Conformational Analysis, & An Intro to Synthesis
5. Stereochemistry: Chiral Molecules
6. Ionic Reactions - Nucleophilic Substitution & Elimination Reactions: Alkyl Halides
7. Alkenes & Alkynes: Properties & Synthesis, Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides
8. Alkenes & Alkynes II: Addition Reaction
9. Spectroscopic Methods of Structure Determination
10. Radical Reactions
11. Alcohols & Ethers
12. Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds, Oxidation-Reduction & Organometallic Compounds

Course schedule:
Section: LM
Lecture: M and W: 8:00 am – 9:50 am

Relationship of course to program outcomes:

The outcome of this course contribute to the following departmental Course
educational outcomes: Objective
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a. demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles 1-13, 16
of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure,
quantum chemistry, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, kinetics
and mechanism, equilibrium, thermochemistry and
thermodynamics, molecular structure and function,
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electrochemistry, and the periodic chemical properties of the
elements.
b. apply the fundamental principles of chemistry to life sciences, 1-13, 16
the environment, materials, engineering, and emerging
technological fields of chemistry, as well as to everyday
situations.
c. conduct experiments and learn fundamental laboratory skills NA
d. analyze and interpret data 12 - 14
e. apply mathematical concepts to chemical problems NA

f. work as part of a problem-solving team 15

g. convey facts, theories and results about chemistry in written NA
form
h. use oral presentation to convey facts, theories and results NA
about chemistry
i. access and utilize chemical information technology NA
j. design and execute scientific research NA
k. apply ethical responsibilities and professional conduct NA

Assessment tools:

The final grade is calculated as follows:

Best two scores of the three in-class examinations (50%)
Final Examination (50%)
* The lowest grade exam will be dropped. Missing an exam will result in receiving a zero grade
for that particular exam and thus dropping that grade. There will not be any Make-up Exams.

PROBLEMS: The assigned problems are a very important part of the course. You are
responsible for all problems, within and at the end of each chapter. If you can do the problems,
you should do well on the exams.

EXAMS: There will be three 90 minute exams during the semester of which you should take at
least two. If you take all three exams your lowest exam score will be dropped while computing
your grade. If you take only two of the 90 minute exams, all scores will count. These three
exams will account for 50% towards your final grade, and the Final Examination for 50%. The
date of the Final Examination will be set by the registrar, and will cover ALL CHAPTERS (1-
12) studied.

Office Hours:
Mondays: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Wednesdays: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Or by appointment
Office is located in the science building in room MR 1224

Absence Policy (Attendance)

Students are expected to attend every class session of each course in which they are enrolled and
to be on time. An instructor has the right to drop a student from a course for excessive absence.
Students are advised to determine the instructor’s policy at the first class session. They should
note that an instructor may treat lateness as equivalent to absence. (No distinction is made
between excused and unexcused absences.) Each instructor retains the right to establish his or
her own policy, but students should be guided by the following general College policy: In

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courses designated as clinical, performance, laboratory or field work courses, the limit on
absences is established by the individual instructor. For all other courses, the number of hours
absent may not exceed twice the number of contact hours the course meets per week. When a
student is dropped for excessive absence, the Registrar will enter the grade of WU.

Academic Integrity
The CCNY policy on academic integrity will be followed in this course. The document can be
found at: http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/current/integrity.cfm In addition, the Policy on Academic
Integrity can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin 2007 - 2009 in Appendix B.3 on page 312.
All students must read the details regarding plagiarism and cheating in order to be familiar with
the rules of the college. Cases where academic integrity is compromised will be prosecuted
according to these rules.

Allowing the student to do extra work after the final grade has been awarded: A student offers
the instructor many reasons why the academic work submitted during the semester was not an
adequate representation of his/her grasp of the course content. The instructor agrees to read the
extra work and change the grade, if the work is warranted.
Although similar to the above situation in that the student is being allowed to do work after the
course is over, this scenario differs in its details. This arrangement presents two problems:
firstly, it is unfair to those students who have not been offered such an opportunity and have
completed coursework sufficiently and on time; secondly, it circumvents the mandated appeals
process. Consequently, it is a violation of the academic policy of the school.

Allowing the student to negotiate a grade: A student does no extra work after the award of a
final grade, yet he/she bases a campaign for a higher grade on the sheer force of an argument.
The higher grade may be wrested from the professor by the brilliance of the student’s debate or
by the latter’s subtle but persistent erosion of the instructor’s strength of refusal. As the instructor
is paid for his/her expertise in a field, they are expected to exercise competency in his/her
determination of an appropriate grade for a student. Consequently, it is a violation of the
academic policy of the school.

Department “INC” Grade Policy

"Makeup exam for INC grades in Chemistry courses will be completed no later than two weeks
after the end of classes. INC may be assigned to students who have a passing grade in the course
but who are unable to take the final examination. A passing grade is computed by averaging all
examinations / assignments which include a zero grade for missed examinations / assignments
[or In calculating the passing grade, missed class examination / assignment is given a value of
zero and included in the computation of the grade]. A student must have a very good reason
(such as a conflict with another scheduled examination, death of spouse, injury sustained in a
catastrophic incident, etc., and {proof is also required}) for missing the scheduled final exam and
be given an INC grade. If the reason is not forthcoming, then a letter grade of F should be
assigned. An Incomplete Grade Agreement form must be signed by the Instructor before the
student is allowed to take the makeup exam. Payment of a fee at the Bursar's office is required
in order to take the makeup examination. The Registrar may waive the fee if the reason for
granting an INC grade is conflict with another scheduled examination. Grades for a makeup
exam will be submitted within one week of the administration of the exam.

Disability
In compliance with CCNY policy and equal access laws, appropriate academic accommodations
are offered for students with disabilities. Students must first register with The AccessAbility
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Center for reasonable academic accommodations. The AccessAbility Center is located in the
North Academic Center, Rm. 1/218. Tel: (212) 650-5913. Under The Americans with Disability
Act, an individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life activities. If you have any such issues, I encourage
you to visit the AccessAbility Center to determine which services may be appropriate for you.

Courtesy
Noise and excessive chatter, eating, drinking, or use of unauthorized electronic equipment is not
allowed in the classroom.

TEXTBOOK PROBLEMS:
The assigned problems are a very important part of the course. You are responsible for all
problems, within and at the end of each chapter. If you can do the problems, you should do well
on the exams.

Class Schedule

Monday
August 27th Chapter 1. A Review of General Chemistry: Electrons, Bonds, and
Molecular Properties 1

Wednesday
August 29th Chapter 1. A Review of General Chemistry: Electrons, Bonds, and
Molecular Properties 1

Monday
September 3rd *** NO CLASSES ***
Labor Day. College Closed.

Wednesday
September 5th Monday Schedule
Chapter 2. Molecular Representations

Monday
September 10th *** NO CLASSES ***

Wednesday
September 12th Chapter 2. Molecular Representations

Monday
September 17th Chapter 3. Acids and Bases

Wednesday
September 19th *** NO CLASSES ***

Monday
September 24th Chapter 4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Wednesday
September 26th Chapter 4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
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Monday
October 1st Chapter 4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Wednesday
October 3rd *** FIRST EXAMINATION ***

Monday
October 8th *** NO CLASSES ***
Columbus Day. College Closed.
Wednesday
October 10th Chapter 5. Stereoisomerism

Monday
October 15th Chapter 5. Stereoisomerism

Wednesday
October 17th Chapter 6. Chemical Reactivity and Mechanisms

Monday
October 22nd Chapter 7. Alkyl Halides: Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination
Reactions

Wednesday
October 24th Chapter 7. Alkyl Halides: Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination
Reactions

Monday
October 29th Chapter 8. Addition Reactions of Alkenes

Wednesday
October 31st Chapter 8. Addition Reactions of Alkenes

Monday
November 5th *** SECOND EXAMINATION ***

Wednesday
November 7th Chapter 9. Alkynes

Monday
November 12th Chapter 9. Alkynes

Wednesday
November 14th Chapter 10. Radical Reactions

Monday
November 19th Chapter 11. Synthesis

Wednesday
November 21st Chapter 12. Alcohols and Phenols

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Monday
November 26th Chapter 12. Alcohols and Phenols

Wednesday
November 28th Chapter 14. Infrared Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry

Monday
December 3rd Chapter 14. Infrared Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry

Wednesday
December 5th Catch-up and review for Third Examination

Monday
December 10th *** THIRD EXAMINATION ***

Wednesday
December 12th Catch-up and review for Final Examination

Final Examination will be scheduled during the final exam period between Monday the 17th
and Friday the 21st of December of 2018.
Our Final Exam Date is: 12 19 2018
Our Final Exam Time is 8:00 – 10:15 am

“I hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.”

Chinese proverb