CHEM 764/7640 - Synthetic Organic Reactions

Semester: Fall 2025

Professor: W. Tam | Discipline: Organic | Campus: Guelph

Description

Named organic reactions and other synthetically useful reactions are discussed. The mechanism, stereochemical implications and use in organic synthesis of these reactions will be presented. Examples from the organic literature will be used to illustrate these aspects.

Materials

Lecture slides/notes will be available for download through CourseLink at the beginning of the semester.  It is assumed that you are familiar with the organic chemistry materials covered in undergraduate courses and you may wish to have the notes available to review topic as needed.

Assignments, revisions materials, past exam papers will also be available for download through CourseLink.

Evaluation

The final grade will be obtained as follows:

Term Paper:               20%   (Due date: November 25, 2025)

Seminar:                     20%   (Dates: November 18 & 25, 2025)

Mid-term Exam:        20%   (Date: October 21, 2025)

Final Exam:               40%   (Date: December 2, 2025)

Lab/Project

Lecture Schedule

September       9th              Chapter 1 (Introduction & Review on Basic Organic Reactions)

16th            Chapter 2 (Oxidation)

23rd            Chapter 3 (Reduction)

30th            Chapter 4 (Olefination)

October           7th              Chapter 5 (Introduction to Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis)

& Chapter 6 (Functional Groups Interconversion)

14th            (Fall Study Break Day – No Classes Scheduled)

21st            Mid-term Exam. (covering Chapters 1-6)

28th            Chapter 7 (Carbonyl Chemistry)

November       4th                  Chapter 8 (Cycloaddition) & Chapter 9 (Sigmatropic Rearrangement)

11th                Chapter 10 (Organometallic Reagents in Organic Synthesis)

18th                Seminars

25th                Seminars

December        2nd                 Final Exam

Schedule

  • Tue: 7:00 pm - 9:20 pm in Synchronous Remote

Office Hours

Office: MACN 332 Phone: 824-4120 (Ext.52268) E-mail: [email protected] **You are welcome to email me or connect with me through Teams any time to discuss problems.