Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Enantiomers
Nonsuperimposable stereoisomers thalat are mirror images of each other. Enantiomers differ in configuration at every chiral center but share the same chemica land physical properties in a nonstereospecific environment. If one enantiomer of a compound has (+) optical activity, then the other will have (-) optical activity, and vice versa
Effusion
The movement of gas through a small opening into an area of lower pressure
Primary amine
An amine where the nitrogen atom is attached to one alkyl chain (H2NR)
Anomers
Cyclic stereoisomers that differ in configuration at the hemiacetal carbon (C1). In a six-membered ring, if the hydroxy group attached to the C1 and the substituent attached to the C5 are trans to each other, the molecule is referred to as the alpha anomer. If both groups are cis to each other, then the molecule is referred to as the beta anomer. Note that the C1 and C5 are carbons adjacent to the oxygen in the ring
Haloalkanes
Alkanes with a halogen substituent. The compound can be named either has a haloalkane or as an alkyl halide
Geometric Isomers
Isomers that differ in the arrangement of substituents around a double bond. Geometric isomers are often differentiated using either the cis/trans notation for simple compounds or Z/E notation for more complex compounds, and can differ in their physical and chemical properties
Alkynes
Compounds containing carbon-carbon triple bonds. The compound is named by replacing the -ane in the alkane with -yne
Nucleophile
A species that tends to donate electrons in the chemical reactions. Nucleophiles are attarcted to (+) charge. For nucleophiles with the same attacking atom (O- to O3-) in aprotic solvents, nucleophile strength correlates to basicity. In protic solvents and in situations where the attacking atom is different (O-, S3-), nucleophile strength correlates with size
Isoelectric Point
The point at which a compound is electrically neutral. During isoelectric focusing, a molecule (such as a protein) will migrate towards its isoelectric point
Oxidation of Alcohols
Primary alcohols can be oxidize to aldehydes using PCC and further oxidized to carboxylic acids using KMnO4, Na2Cr2O7, or CrO3. Secondary alcohols can be oxidized to ketones using any of these oxidants
Grignard Reagent
An alkyl magnesium halide that is used to make carbon-carbon bonds. The alkyl group in a Grignard reagent has a negative charge and acts as a nucleophile attacking electrophillic carbons
Epimers
Isomers that differ in configuration at only one stereogenic center
Meso Compound
A stereoisomer with an internal plane of symmetry. Meso compounds are optically inactive
Diastereomers
Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. Diastereomers differ in their configurations in at least one chiral center and share the same configuration in at least one chiral center. They have similar chemical properties but different physical properties
Recrystallization
a separation technique used to purify the particles of interest from a mixture of solids. The mixture is dissolved in saturating amounts in warm solvent. As the solution cools, the pure substance crystallizes while impurities remain in solution
Structural Isomers
Compounds with the same molecular formula but different connectivity. Structural isomers have different chemical and physical properties
Nitrile
A nitrogen triple-bonded to a carbon
Monosaccharides
the smallest unit of carbohydrates. Glucose and fructose are examples of monosaccharides (sugars)
SN1 Reactions
Unimolecular nucleophilic subsitution reactions. Leaving group leaves, forming a carbocation that then reacts with a nucleophile. Reactivity increases from methyl to primary to secondary to tertiary with increasing carbocation stability
Secondary Carbon
A carbon atom bonded to two other carbon atoms
Alpha Carbon
Carbon adjacent to the carbon containing the functionality under consideration
Chromatography
a separation technique that uses the retention time of a compound in the mobile phase as it travels through the stationary phase to separate compounds with different properties
Carboxylic Acid
A compound that has an COOH terminal group. Carboxylic acids are named by replacing the -e in the corresponding alkane with -oic acid. Formic acid and acetic acid are common names for the simplest carboxylic acids: methanoic acid and ethanoic acid, respectively
Amide
a compound that has a carbonyl group bonded to nitrogen. Amides are named by dropping the -oic acid in the corresponding acid and adding -amide. Substituents attached to the nitrogen are listed following N-
Tertiary Structure of Proteins
Three-dimensional structure of a peptide that results from hydrophobic and hydrophillic interactions between residues far apart on the chain. Disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds can also add to the tertiary structure of the protein
Glycosidic Linkage
the bond that forms when the hemiacetal group of one sugar reacts with a hydroxyl group of another sugar to form an acetal group in between the two sugars. Polysaccharides are held together by glycosidic linkages
Leaving group
atoms that can dissociate to form a stable species after accepting electron pairs. Weak bases tend to be good leaving groups
Conformational Isomer
stereoisomers that differ by rotation about one or more single bonds, usually represented using Newman projections
Ketone
a compound that has a non-terminal carbonyl group. Ketones are named by replacing the -e in the corresponding alkane with -one
Stereoisomers
compounds with the same molecular formula and connectivity but different arrangements in space. Stereoisomers include geometric isomers, diastereomers, enantiomers, conformational isomers, and meso compounds
Hydrogren Bonding
Strong intermolecular bond between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom ( F, O, or N) and lone electron pairs on the F, O or N atom
Racemic Mixture
a mixture that contains equal amounts of the (+) and (-) enantiomers. Racemic mixtures, while made up of optically active molecules, are not optically active themselves
Alkanes
compounds consisting of only carbons and hydrogens bonded with sigma bonds. As chain length increases, boiling point, melting point, and density increase. However, chain branching decreases both boiling point and density
Aldose
Sugar that contains an aldehyde group
Secondary Structure of Proteins
regularly repeating local structures such as alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets often formed by hydrogen bonds between resides that are nearby on the chain nearby on the polypeptide chain
Distillation
a separation technique used to separate liquids with different boiling points. The mixture is heated slowly, and as the liquid with the lower boiling point converts into its gaseous form, it passes through a condenser, where it ools back into its liquid form
Enolization
the process by which the carbonyl oxygen of a ketone gets protonated to form an enol
Sublimation
a separation technique used to separate a mixture of solids from impurities that have different vapor pressures The sample is heated under a vacuum. As it sublimes directly into the gaseous phase, the gas is condensed on a cold surface.
Mutarotation
the conversion of an alpha anomer to a beta anomer that occurs when a sugar ring opens, rotates about the bond between c1 and c2 and closes
Primary structure of proteins
The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide, read from the N-terminus to the C-terminus
Centrifugation
a separation technique used to separate particles according to mass, shape, and density. Particles of greater mass and density settle near the bottom of the test tubes, while lighter compounds remain on top
Imine
A compound that has carbon double-bonded to nitrogen
Filtration
a separation technique used to separate solids from a liquid. This technique utilizes a filter that allows liquids and small particles to pass through while retaining larger particles
Aldehyde
a compound that has a HC=O as a terminal group. Aldehydes are named by replacing the -e in the corresponding alkane with -al. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde are common names used for the simplest aldehydes
tautomers
isomers that can interconvert by exchanging the location of a proton
Zwitterion
an amphoteric compound with positive and negative charges in different locations, but no net electric charge
SN2 Reactions
bimolecular nucleophilic subsititution reactions occur through a concerted mechanism where nucleophile attacks as the leaving group starts to leave. Reactivity increases from tertiary to secondary to primary with decreasing steric effects
Alkenes
compounds containing carbon-carbon double bonds. The compound is named by replacing the -ane in the corresponding alkane with -ene
Conjugated Proteins
proteins that require a covalently bonded prosthetic group to function properly. Hemoglobin is an example of such a protein
Quaternary Structure of Proteins
dfferent polypeptide chains, each referred to as a subunit, associate together to form a functional protein
Secondary Amine
An amine where the nitrogen atom is attached to two alkyl chains (HNR2)
