Organic graduate students complete five required courses. In both the Fall and Spring semesters courses in physical and synthetic organic chemistry are given.

In addition, there is an organic spectroscopy course (generally in summer following first year), and a weekly, less formal "arrow-pushing" course in the Spring.

Besides required courses, numerous special topics courses are offered from time to time. Past topics include organometallics, asymmetric catalysis, biosynthesis, bioorganic chemistry, heterocycles, etc.

More detail about each course can be found in the listings below:

Fall Courses

Begins with an in-depth treatment of fundamental tools and concepts in both structure (valence bond and molecular orbital theory, computational approaches, stereochemistry, conformational analysis), and mechanism (linear free-energy relationships, thermochemistry, kinetics, isotope effects). These ideas are then applied in the context of a variety of reaction types (nucleophilic substitution, behavior of carbocations and carbanions, addition/elimination processes).

C545 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry I

This course covers basic functional group transformations and bond forming/bond breaking reactions, oxidations and reductions useful in synthetic organic chemistry. Named organic reactions are also covered to illustrate these fundamental organic transformations. Many of these simple reactions are exemplified in the context of complex natural products synthesis. A separate mechanistic understanding of these fundamental reactions is stressed throughout the course.

Spring Courses

C547 - Physical Organic Chemistry
Expands upon concepts from C543 in the context of more complex reaction systems (carbonyl compounds, amino acids, heteroaromatic compounds, radicals, electron transfer, carbenes/nitrenes, orbital symmetry and photochemistry).

C549 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry II
This course applies the fundamental tools of reaction methodology covered in Synthesis I to the construction of complex, polyfunctional molecules. An introduction to retrosynthetic analysis and strategies for the total synthesis of natural products with an emphasis on stereocontrolled reaction methodology is developed.

C647 - Arrow Pushing in Organic Chemistry

Electron-pushing mechanisms. A one-two credit course designed specifically to help first and second year graduate students prepare for the Organic cumulative exams. Weekly problem sets to develop mechanistic understanding of organic reactions and skills in the art of arrow-pushing in organic chemistry. A wide variety of reaction types of interest to the modern organic chemist will be discussed.

Summer Course

C541 - Organic Spectroscopy (Summer)
Structure determination by spectral analysis. A problem-oriented spectral interpretation course for the organic chemist covering 1D and 2D 1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopy. The course includes workshop problems from research groups at CSU, and a two-week practicum, which puts theory into practice.