Organic Chemistry Courses

CHEM 1071-4. Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry

This course has three lectures and a three-hour lab each week. It has a prerequisite of CHEM 1111 or the formerly-taught course CHEM 1051 or the equivalent. It is a recommended second semester course for students who are interested in a biologically related area and who do not plan to take any further chemistry. Organic and biological chemistry are important areas of chemistry, and such students will be well served by learning the material in CHEM 1071. However, students who plan to go on to take organic chemistry and perhaps further chemistry and/or biochemistry must take CHEM 1131. CHEM 1071 does not satisfy the prerequisites for advanced courses.

CHEM 3311-4. Organic Chemistry 1

Three lectures and one recitation per week, taught each semester and in the summer. Normally this must be taken concurrently with a lab, CHEM 3321 or 3361. This is the mainline organic chemistry course for science majors and premedical students. It will satisfy the requirements for a major in chemistry or biochemistry; however, it is recommended that majors take CHEM 3351 instead unless they need to take organic chemistry in the off semester or summer. Topics generally covered in CHEM 3311 include nomenclature, structure and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, and aromatics; stereochemistry; and mechanisms and dynamics of organic reactions.

CHEM 3321-1. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1

One three-hour lab per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the lab to accompany and illustrate the lecture material in CHEM 3311. Together with the follow-up lab 3341, CHEM 3321 satisfies the laboratory requirements for premedical students and most science majors including biochemistry majors. Chemistry majors need additional organic lab and should take CHEM 3361 and 3381. Biochemistry majors desiring extra lab experience should do the same.

CHEM 3331-4. Organic Chemistry 2

Three lectures and one recitation per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the course which normally follows CHEM 3311 to complete the organic chemistry sequence. It is recommended that chemistry and biochemistry majors take CHEM 3371 instead if possible. Topics generally covered include nomenclature, structure and reactions of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, amines, heterocycles, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Synthesis and reaction techniques are emphasized.

CHEM 3341-1. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2

One three-hour lab per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the lab to accompany and illustrate the lecture material in CHEM 3331. It completes the organic laboratory requirement for premedical students and most science majors including biochemistry majors. Chemistry majors and many biochemistry majors should take CHEM 3381 instead.

CHEM 3351-4. Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors

Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3311 but offers a small class and coverage in more depth. It is taught only in the fall semester. It is usually restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors, but will be opened to non-majors if it is not filled. It is strongly recommended that majors take this class unless they have to take organic chemistry during the off semester or in the summer. It is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3361 but may be taken with 3321 if needed.

CHEM 3361-2. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry Majors

Two three-hour labs per week, taught only in the fall semester. This course is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3351 but may be taken with 3311 if necessary. Chemistry majors almost have to take CHEM 3361 and 3381 since they need four credits of organic lab. Biochemistry majors are only required to take two hours (3321 and 3341), but 3361 and 3381 are recommended for them too as providing a better lab experience.

CHEM 3371-4. Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors

Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3331, but, like 3351, is intended for majors. It is taught only in the spring semester. It is usually taken with CHEM 3381 but may be taken with 3341 instead if necessary. It is strongly recommended for majors unless they have to take organic chemistry in the off semester or the summer.

CHEM 3381-2. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry Majors

Two three-hour labs per week, taught only in the spring semester. This course is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3371 but may be taken with 3331 if necessary. Chemistry majors need this course to complete their four hours of organic lab. The course is also recommended but not required for biochemistry majors.

CHEM 4901 (1-6). Independent Study in Chemistry and Biochemistry

This is a variable credit course and may be taken for one to six hours of credit. It is a controlled enrollment class, and prior arrangements must be made with a faculty mentor and the department before a student may enroll. It is highly recommended for students with a good record.

Chem 5311-3. Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry I

Surveys synthetic transformations emphasizing important functional group transformations and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Required of all organic chemistry graduate students. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry, or instructor consent.

Chem 5321-3. Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry

Modern concepts of physical organic chemistry and their use in interpreting data in terms of mechanisms of organic reactions and reactivities of organic compounds. Required of all organic chemistry graduate students. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry and one year of physical chemistry, or instructor consent.

Chem 5331 (2-3). Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques in Organic Chemistry

Advanced spectroscopic techniques for structure and determination in organic chemistry. Emphasizes ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry and one year of physical chemistry or instructor consent.



				Organic Chemistry Courses For an official description of the courses below, the reader is referred to the current University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog. The following descriptions are more informal and are intended to supplement the catalog in helping students choose courses.


				CHEM 1071-4. Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry This course has three lectures and a three-hour lab each week. It has a prerequisite of CHEM 1111 or the formerly-taught course CHEM 1051 or the equivalent. It is a recommended second semester course for students who are interested in a biologically related area and who do not plan to take any further chemistry. Organic and biological chemistry are important areas of chemistry, and such students will be well served by learning the material in CHEM 1071. However, students who plan to go on to take organic chemistry and perhaps further chemistry and/or biochemistry must take CHEM 1131. CHEM 1071 does not satisfy the prerequisites for advanced courses. CHEM 3311-4. Organic Chemistry 1 Three lectures and one recitation per week, taught each semester and in the summer. Normally this must be taken concurrently with a lab, CHEM 3321 or 3361. This is the mainline organic chemistry course for science majors and premedical students. It will satisfy the requirements for a major in chemistry or biochemistry; however, it is recommended that majors take CHEM 3351 instead unless they need to take organic chemistry in the off semester or summer. Topics generally covered in CHEM 3311 include nomenclature, structure and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, and aromatics; stereochemistry; and mechanisms and dynamics of organic reactions. CHEM 3321-1. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1 One three-hour lab per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the lab to accompany and illustrate the lecture material in CHEM 3311. Together with the follow-up lab 3341, CHEM 3321 satisfies the laboratory requirements for premedical students and most science majors including biochemistry majors. Chemistry majors need additional organic lab and should take CHEM 3361 and 3381. Biochemistry majors desiring extra lab experience should do the same. CHEM 3331-4. Organic Chemistry 2 Three lectures and one recitation per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the course which normally follows CHEM 3311 to complete the organic chemistry sequence. It is recommended that chemistry and biochemistry majors take CHEM 3371 instead if possible. Topics generally covered include nomenclature, structure and reactions of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, amines, heterocycles, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Synthesis and reaction techniques are emphasized. CHEM 3341-1. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2 One three-hour lab per week, taught each semester and in the summer. This is the lab to accompany and illustrate the lecture material in CHEM 3331. It completes the organic laboratory requirement for premedical students and most science majors including biochemistry majors. Chemistry majors and many biochemistry majors should take CHEM 3381 instead. CHEM 3351-4. Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3311 but offers a small class and coverage in more depth. It is taught only in the fall semester. It is usually restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors, but will be opened to non-majors if it is not filled. It is strongly recommended that majors take this class unless they have to take organic chemistry during the off semester or in the summer. It is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3361 but may be taken with 3321 if needed. CHEM 3361-2. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry Majors Two three-hour labs per week, taught only in the fall semester. This course is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3351 but may be taken with 3311 if necessary. Chemistry majors almost have to take CHEM 3361 and 3381 since they need four credits of organic lab. Biochemistry majors are only required to take two hours (3321 and 3341), but 3361 and 3381 are recommended for them too as providing a better lab experience. CHEM 3371-4. Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3331, but, like 3351, is intended for majors. It is taught only in the spring semester. It is usually taken with CHEM 3381 but may be taken with 3341 instead if necessary. It is strongly recommended for majors unless they have to take organic chemistry in the off semester or the summer. CHEM 3381-2. Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry Majors Two three-hour labs per week, taught only in the spring semester. This course is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3371 but may be taken with 3331 if necessary. Chemistry majors need this course to complete their four hours of organic lab. The course is also recommended but not required for biochemistry majors. CHEM 4901 (1-6). Independent Study in Chemistry and Biochemistry This is a variable credit course and may be taken for one to six hours of credit. It is a controlled enrollment class, and prior arrangements must be made with a faculty mentor and the department before a student may enroll. It is highly recommended for students with a good record. Chem 5311-3. Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry I Surveys synthetic transformations emphasizing important functional group transformations and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Required of all organic chemistry graduate students. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry, or instructor consent. Chem 5321-3. Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry Modern concepts of physical organic chemistry and their use in interpreting data in terms of mechanisms of organic reactions and reactivities of organic compounds. Required of all organic chemistry graduate students. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry and one year of physical chemistry, or instructor consent. Chem 5331 (2-3). Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques in Organic Chemistry Advanced spectroscopic techniques for structure and determination in organic chemistry. Emphasizes ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Prerequisites: one year of organic chemistry and one year of physical chemistry or instructor consent.