Organic Spectroscopy               Ch 340, Winter, 2004

 

                                            new nmr    

Welcome to Organic Spectroscopy! This is a great subject, especially for those who like to solve puzzles and play with computers, and I hope you enjoy the year. This space will be used for news items, and the links above will connect you to essential course information.

Jan 1: Note that laboratory sections will be meeting the first week of classes. You will learn how to interpret 1H NMR spectra, so don't miss it!

Jan 5:  The first week of class will be spent covering Chapter 3 on NMR.  You are asked to attend the laboratory section that you are registered for.  If you are wait listed for a section, you must attend and we will sort out your schedule by the first or second week of the term.  It is essential that you attend the laboratory portion of the class during the first week of the term.  Chapter 3 will introduce you to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.  Please do not hesitate to ask me questions by email (mcdougao@sou.edu) or swing by my office SC266.  Looking for spectral problems to practice online?  Check out the web site www.chem.ucla.edu and click on WebSpectra.

Jan 12:  Chapter 3 (proton NMR)

Jan 19:  Monday is a holiday.  In lecture we will continue with Chapter 3 on proton NMR.  This week you should plan to meet with a student mentor or your lab instructor to run your NMR experiments.

Jan 26:  This week, we will be meeting in our regularly scheduled lab sections to solve more problems, do more calculations, and review for the midterm.  In lecture we will continue on proton NMR and eventually get to carbon.  The midterm is scheduled for February 3.  Depending on where we are, that may have to change to February 5.  The NMR reports will be due February 10.  It is required that you save your NMR data with a filename and sample ID that includes your initials, the unknown number, and the type of spectrum acquired.  An example of this would be omm12a_h1.  You should plan to acquire both your carbon and proton data while you are on the instrument.  This will require ten drops of your sample.  If you should have any questions, please contact myself, Hala, or a student mentor.

Feb 2: The week of February 9 you will be instructed on the use of the IR spectrophotometer and you will be expected to turn in your unknown reports.  A sample report can be found on this web page.  The midterm will consist of 60% theory and 40% problem solving.  Don't forget to bring a calculator.

Feb 9: This week in lab, we will overview IR, learn how to operate the IR spectrophotometer, discuss any questions remaining from the midterm, and practice more combined spectral problems.  In lecture, we will continue our discussion of IR and look to introduce GC-MS.  The intention is to get to GC-MS by the week of the 16th.  

Feb 16:  This week in lab, you will be shown how to operate the GC-MS.  In lecture we will cover the theory behind the mass spectrometer.

Feb 23: This week in lab we will solve combined spectral problems in the same manner that you are expected to do them for your final presentations.  Please refer to the links listed under March 8 to get the grading criteria prior to lab.  We will be finishing the mass spectrometry lectures this week and will move back to NMR by Thursday.  Please bring a fresh mind or at least a fresh cup of coffee for your instructor.

Mar 1: In lab, we will solve combined spectral problems, and practice presentations.  The expectations for your presentation will be made crystal clear.  In lecture, we will explore advanced topics in NMR.

Mar 8:  The final report is due March 9 at 1 p.m. and they will not be accepted late.  The PowerPoint presentations will begin this week in laboratory classes.  Please see your lab instructor if you have any questions.  You will be required to email a final copy of your presentation to your instructor so that we can evaluate the quality of the unknown compounds for next years class.  You can see me or your instructor to assist in making your PowerPoint presentation.  If you would like to see the peer evaluation form for the presentations, click  HERE and if you would like to see the form your instructor will use to evaluate you, click  HERE .  The final week of class will focus on a review of the content contained on the final exam.  You are strongly encouraged to attend.  This is the last week of lecture.  We will be reviewing for the 200 point final exam.  Please check out the review sheet on this web site for a comprehensive listing of what is expected for the term.  The exam will be broken down into 75% problem solving and 25% theory.  


If you have questions, comments or suggestions, e-mail me at mcdougao@sou.edu