Organic Chemistry

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Five of the next seven chapters cover

the reactions of hydrocarbons—compounds

that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

The other two chapters treat topics that

are so important to the study of organic

reactions that each deserves its own chap-

ter. The first of these is stereochemistry

and the second is electron delocalization

and resonance.

Chapter 3begins by looking at the structure and nomen-

clature of alkenes—hydrocarbons that contain carbon–

carbon double bonds. Then some fundamental principles

that govern the reactions of organic compounds are intro-

duced. You will learn how to draw curved arrows to show

how electrons move during the course of a reaction as

new covalent bonds are formed and existing covalent

bonds are broken. This chapter also discusses the princi-

ples of thermodynamics and kinetics—principles that are

central to an understanding of how and why organic reac-

tions take place.

Organic compounds can be divided into families, and for-

tunately, all members of a family react in the same way.

In Chapter 4, you will learn how the family of com-

pounds known as alkenes reacts and what kinds of prod-

ucts are formed from the reactions. Although many

different reactions are covered, you will see that they all

take place by a similar pathway.

Chapter 5is all about stereochemistry. Here, you will

learn about the different kinds of isomers that are possi-

ble for organic compounds. Then you will revisit the re-

actions that you learned in Chapter 4, to determine

whether the products of those reactions can exist as iso-

mers and, if so, which isomers are formed.

Chapter 6covers the reactions of alkynes—hydrocarbons

that contain carbon–carbon triple bonds. Because alkenes

and alkynes both have reactive carbon–carbon bonds,

you will discover that their reactions have many similari-

ties. This chapter will also introduce you to some of the

techniques chemists use to design syntheses of organic

compounds, and you will then have your first opportunity

to design a multistep synthesis.

In Chapter 7, you will learn more about delocalized

electrons and the concept known as resonance—topics

you were introduced to in Chapter 1. Then you will see

how electron delocalization affects some of the things

with which you are already familiar—acidity, the stabili-

ty of carbocations and radicals, and the reactions of

alkenes.

p

Hydrocarbons,

Stereochemistry,

and Resonance

PA R T T W O

Chapter 3

Alkenes: Structure,

Nomenclature, and

an Introduction to Reactivity •

Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Chapter 4

Reactions of Alkenes

Chapter 5

Stereochemistry:

The Arrangement of Atoms

in Space; The Stereochemistry

of Addition Reactions

Chapter 6

Reactions of Alkynes•

Introduction

to Multistep Synthesis

Chapter 7

Electron Delocalization

and Resonance•More About

Molecular Orbital Theory

Chapter 8

Reactions of Dienes•

Ultraviolet and Visible

Spectroscopy

Chapter 9

Reactions of Alkanes• Radicals

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