Rules of the Day
3-4-2025
Click here for a copy of the lectures notes I wrote in class
Click here for a copy of the handouts I used in class today
Featured Golden Rule of Chemistry: 10. A reaction mechanism describes the sequence of steps occurring during a reaction.10
. A reaction mechanism describes the sequence of steps occurring during a reaction.
1. Make sure you fully understand what the terms "enantiomer", "diastereomer" and "racemic" actually mean and how to use them appropriately.
2. Reactions follow the mechanisms according to the paths of lowest energy (greatest opportunity), that is why I always emphasize when a charged species is stabilized by resonance delocalization. In many of the reactions we have seen this semester, you might be able to imagine shorter possible mechanisms, but they would invovle higher energy intermediates such as primary carbon cations (primary carbocations), so they are not relevant.
3. Remember you are responsible for nomenclature up through aldehydes and ketones as well as carboxylic acids, esters and amides (NOT acid chlorides, nitriles or anhydrides)
4. It is important that you are able to write a balanced equation for each mechanism that we cover. To do this, keep track of all the atoms in all of the products produced during a reaction mechanism and balance that on the starting materials side of the equation. This will help you keep track of "acid or base catalyzed" vs. "acid or base promoted" as well as EQUIVALENTS. Doing this establishes a critical link between reaction mechanisms and how to use them properly in synthesis reactions!There are four new concepts associated with chapter 19. Click on these one at a time to get more information.
C) Beta-Dicarbonyl species are especially acidic
D) Conjugate addition to alpha,beta unsaturated carbonyl species.
5. Aldol products can dehydrate to give a mixture of E and Z alpha,beta unsaturated aldehydes when heated in dilute acid. The more stable alkene (usually E) generally predominates.
6. A complex mixture of aldol products result (four different consititutional isomers plus stereoisomers) when two different aldehydes are used and both of them can make enolates.
7. Aldols between two different aldehydes can be run in high yield if one of the carbonyls is a ketone and the other is an aldehyde that cannot make an enolate. This is generally only relevant to formaldehyde and benzaldehyde.
8. The alpha hydrogens between beta-dicarbonyls are especially acidic because of the extensive resonance delocalization of the negative charge.
9. A Claisen reaction is an "aldol with esters", also known as Dr. Evil meets an ester. At least 0.5 equivalents of the alkoxide corresponding to the alcohol portion of the ester is used to create an enolate that reacts with another molecule of ester via Mechanism B. For a movie of the Claisen reaction, click here. Claisen reactions are favorable (have a strong motive) because of the last deprotonation step. In the balanced overall Claisen reaction there are two molecules of starting ester required, one molecule of alkoxide base and two molecules of alcohol produced along with one product beta-ketoester.
If you are having even a little trouble with mechanisms: Print out multiple copies of the new Mechanism Sheet 18 Microscopic Reversibility. Practice writing arrows and reagents in both directions (Acid catalyzed ester hydrolysis, starting at the top then working down and Fischer esterification, starting at the bottom then working up), taking advantage of the common structures drawn in red. Try to UNDERSTAND why each step occurs and why acid catalyzed ester hydrolysis uses water or H3O+ in several steps while Fischer Esterification used an alcohol or protonated alcohol. Do this several times until it makes sense. Then print out several copies of the Fischer esterification and acid catalyzed ester hydrolysis sheets and work them until it all makes sense. Keep asking yourself why each step occurs as it does (add a proton, make a bond etc.) until you understand why every step is the best choice. Compare your answers to the sheets you filled out in class.
If you are having even a little trouble with synthesis questions: You must know all the reactions, full stop. After you know your reactions very well, you need to learn the KRE's. The best way to learn these is to turn it into a game. Find some friends and get a list of all the reactions we have learned this semester. Each of you needs to write down an example of each reaction we have learned, with the product on a separate sheet of paper. For example, write an n-butyl Grignard reacting with 2-pentanone and put the product on a separate sheet. Make up examples of each reaction. Then give the product sheet to your friends and have them write down possible reactions that gave the products. There are often several ways to make the same product by the way. Do this for an hour and you will know your KRE's. When working synthesis problems, work backwards. Count carbons in products vs. reactants to identify where new C-C bonds are formed. When you know where the new C-C bonds are formed you can identify KRE's. Be systematic and you will get these.
Homework:
Read: Sections 19.6 - 19.7 in the ebook textbook. This text is part of the Longhorn Textbook access program.
Looking ahead to the second midterm next week, here are some practice problems. You will not turn these in, but I have posted answers for you to check.
Take the Daily Quiz 13 before 10 PM tomorrow. Click here to access the quiz.
Finish working on the Homework Problem Set 6, due at 10 PM on Wednesday, March 5.
When you are ready to upload your Gradescope answers click here (If you are using OneNote you will have an extra front page that MUST be removed before uploading!)There is also an Aktiv learning homework so remember to do that as well. Click here to access the Aktiv Learning Homework 6.
