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29. An introduction to A Level organic chemistry

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  1. A Level organic chemistry conventions and functional group reference

    1. Reference—A Level organic functional groups

      • Recognise and use the A Level organic functional groups and representations from the syllabus table. - (a) arene: benzene ring/arene system - (b) halogenoarene: halogen attached to an arene ring - (c) phenol: -OH attached to an arene ring - (d) acyl chloride: -COCl - (e) secondary and tertiary amines: amine functional group - (f) amides: primary, secondary and tertiary amide functional group - (g) amino acids: amine and carboxyl groups in the same molecule

    2. Reference—Benzene ring representation convention

      • Understand: where a benzene ring is part of the molecule, a displayed formula of the ring would not be expected to be drawn.

  2. 29.1 Formulas, functional groups and nomenclature

    1. 29.1.1Compounds in the table on page 47 contain

      • Understand: the compounds in the table on page 47 contain a functional group which dictates their physical/chemical properties

    2. 29.1.2Interpret/use the general, structural,

      • Interpret/use: the general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulas of the classes of compound stated in the table on page 47

    3. 29.1.3Systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic

      • Understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aliphatic organic molecules (including cyclic compounds containing a single ring of up to six carbon atoms) with functional groups detailed in the table on page 47 , up to six carbon atoms (six plus six for esters and amides, straight chains only for esters and nitriles)

    4. 29.1.4Systematic nomenclature of simple aromatic

      • Understand and use systematic nomenclature of simple aromatic molecules with one benzene ring and one or more simple substituents, e.g. 3-nitrobenzoic acid or 2,4,6-tribromophenol

  3. 29.2 Characteristic organic reactions

    1. 29.2.1

      �� Understand and use the following terminology associated with types of organic mechanisms:: (a) electrophilic substitution; (b) addition–elimination

  4. 29.3 Shapes of aromatic organic molecules; σ and π bonds

    1. 29.3.1

      • Describe/explain: the shape of benzene and other aromatic molecules, including sp² hybridisation, in terms of σ bonds and a delocalised π system

  5. 29.4 Optical isomerism

    1. 29.4.1Enantiomers have identical physical/chemical

      • Understand: enantiomers have identical physical/chemical properties apart from their ability to rotate plane polarised light and their potential biological activity

    2. 29.4.2Terms: optically active and racemic mixture

      • Use terms: optically active and racemic mixture

    3. 29.4.3Effect on plane polarised light of the two

      • Describe the effect on plane polarised light of the two optical isomers of a single substance

    4. 29.4.4Relevance of chirality to the synthetic

      • Explain the relevance of chirality to the synthetic preparation of drug molecules including: - (a) the potential different biological activity of the two enantiomers - (b) the need to separate a racemic mixture into two pure enantiomers - (c) the use of chiral catalysts to produce a single pure optical isomer (Candidates should appreciate that compounds can contain more than one chiral centre, but knowledge - of meso compounds and nomenclature such as diastereoisomers is not required.)