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Rules of the Day

4-25-2024

Click here for a copy of the lectures notes I wrote in class

Click here for a copy of the handout I used in class today

Click here for a copy of the songs we sang today.

1. Solid phase synthesis uses reagents attached to the surface of small beads. Protecting groups and sometimes coupling agents are used as bond-forming cycles are repeated until the desired molecule is synthesized. This can involve hundreds of steps. When finished the molecule is cleaved from the resin. This was first used to synthesize peptides and proteins, but soon was adapted to the synthesis of RNA and DNA. THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THE USE OF SOLID PHASE STHIS ALLOWS FOR AUTOMATION. Modern molecular biology is fueled through the automated synthesis of especially DNA!

1. The COVID pandemic has been contained using amazing new technologies from space-age lipid nanoparticles to nucleic acid analogs to protease inhibitors that make covalent bonds to the target enzyme. We will discuss the incredible breakthroughs that led to the successful vaccines and antivirals against COVID! Click here to see an explanation of the Delta and Omicron variants.

2. "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler" ........Albert Einstein

3. "The only real valuable thing is intuition"...........Albert Einstein

4. "Understanding Where Electrons Are and knowing how to apply the Golden Rules of Chemistry will make Organic Chemistry class as simple as possible, and will give you Organic Chemistry intuition"............Fortune Cookie Saying

5. "Organic is really hard if you try to memorize it instead of trying to learn and understand it"............The Organic Vampire Monkey

Understand and learn. Do not only memorize!

6. The Golden Rules of Organic Chemistry explain most of what we will learn about organic chemistry.

7. The POINT of organic chemistry is synthesis; making complex molecules from simpler ones.

8. We have tried to prepare you for your later biochemistry courses by emphasizing key molecular principles that are important for the properties and reactions of the molecules of life.

9. I have been honored to be on this Organic Chemistry journey of discovery with you. You are an amazing class. Best of luck on the final! Please say "Where are the electrons?" whenever you see me on campus!

Homework:

There are no quizzes, readings or homeworks for the rest of the semester!

When you are ready, you should start working on the Final Practice Homework problems. You will not turn this in, the answers are also posted already. These problems cover the last material of the course, including some covered in the modules linked immediately above.