Chapter 14 — Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
Maharashtra HSC Board — Complete Notes
Of all elements, only carbon forms an immense array of compounds — from methane (1 carbon) to DNA (billions of carbons). Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. Medicines from the pharmaceutical industry are organic compounds. The tetravalency of carbon and its unique ability to bond with itself (catenation) makes organic chemistry a separate branch.
Ways to represent organic molecules:
• Structural formula: all atoms and bonds shown
• Electron dot (Lewis) structure: valence electrons shown as dots
• Condensed formula: bonds hidden, identical groups shown with subscript (CH₃CH₃)
• Bond line / zig-zag formula: C and H not written; C–C bonds as zig-zag; terminals = CH₃; intersections = C; heteroatoms written clearly
3D methods: Wedge formula, Fischer projection (carbohydrate chemistry), Newman projection (view through C–C bond), Sawhorse formula (slanting line for C–C bond).
Organic compounds are classified in two ways:
(i) Based on carbon skeleton:
• Acyclic/Aliphatic: open chain, straight or branched (propane, isobutane)
• Cyclic: ring structures
→ Homocyclic (carbocyclic): ring of C only
→ Alicyclic: properties like aliphatic (cyclobutane, cyclohexene)
→ Aromatic: special stability (benzene = benzenoid; tropone = non-benzenoid)
→ Heterocyclic: ring has heteroatom (O, N, S) — furan, pyridine, pyrrole
(ii) Based on functional group:
A functional group is the part of an organic molecule which undergoes change during a reaction. Compounds with the same functional group form a family (alcohols, aldehydes, etc.).
Homologous series: Series of compounds of the same family, same functional group, same carbon skeleton, each member differing from the next by –CH₂– (methylene group). Individual members are called homologues. All have the same general formula. Physical properties change gradually; chemical properties are similar.
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, founded 1919) developed a systematic, universally accepted method of naming organic compounds — giving each compound a unique name.
IUPAC name = Parent hydrocarbon + branches (prefix) + functional groups (prefix/suffix)
Rules for branched saturated hydrocarbons:
1. Select longest continuous chain = parent chain; other C atoms = side chains/branches
2. Number parent chain to give lowest locant numbers to substituents
3. Names of alkyl substituents added as prefix in alphabetical order
4. Substituent name separated from locant by hyphen
5. Identical substituents: di (2), tri (3), tetra (4) — prefixes di, tri, tetra ignored in alphabetizing
6. If equal length chains: choose chain with maximum substituents
Unsaturated hydrocarbons: 'ane' → 'ene' (alkene), 'yne' (alkyne). Multiple bond must be in parent chain and get lowest locant.
Monocyclic: prefix 'cyclo' (cyclopropane, cyclohexene)
Benzene derivatives:
• Mono: substituent as prefix + benzene (chlorobenzene)
• Di: o– (1,2), m– (1,3), p– (1,4) or numbers
• Special names: toluene (methylbenzene), aniline (aminobenzene), phenol (hydroxybenzene), anisole (methoxybenzene)
• If substituent >7 C: named as phenyl-substituted alkane
Priority order (principal functional group):
–COOH > –SO₃H > –COOR > –COCl > –CONH₂ > –CN > –CHO > C=O > –OH > –NH₂ > C=C > –C≡C–
Isomerism: The phenomenon of existence of two or more compounds possessing the same molecular formula. Such compounds are called isomers.
Two broad types:
1. Structural isomerism: same molecular formula, different structural formula.
a. Chain isomerism: different carbon skeletons. Example: butane (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃) and 2-methylpropane [CH₃CH(CH₃)₂] — both C₄H₁₀.
b. Position isomerism: same functional group at different positions. Example: but-1-ene and but-2-ene — both C₄H₈.
c. Functional group isomerism: different functional groups with same mol. formula. Example: CH₃OCH₃ (dimethyl ether) and CH₃CH₂OH (ethanol) — both C₂H₆O.
d. Metamerism: same functional group, unequal distribution of C on either side. Example: ethoxyethane and methoxypropane — both C₄H₁₀O.
e. Tautomerism: same compound exists as two or more rapidly interconverting structural isomers. A proton shifts between atoms. Most common = keto-enol tautomerism.
2. Stereoisomerism: same structural formula, different spatial arrangement of groups → geometrical and optical isomerism.
During an organic reaction, a covalent bond at a carbon atom in the reactant is broken and a new covalent bond is formed. The overall organic reaction is a multi-step process involving intermediates. A sequential account of electron movements, bond cleavage, bond formation, energy changes, and rate constitute the reaction mechanism.
Types of bond cleavage:
• Homolysis: one electron to each atom → free radicals (neutral, unpaired electron). Fish-hook arrow (½ arrow). Favoured by UV, peroxides, high T. Reactions = free radical (nonpolar) reactions. Free radical = sp², trigonal planar.
• Heterolysis: both electrons to more electronegative atom → carbocation + anion. Full curved arrow. Favoured in polar solvents. Reactions = polar/ionic reactions.
Carbocation: sextet (6e⁻), +ve charge, sp², trigonal planar, vacant pz orbital. Stability: 3° > 2° > 1° > CH₃⁺.
Carbanion: octet, –ve charge, formed when C bonds to electropositive atom.
Electronic effects:
1. Inductive effect: permanent; sigma bond; polarity transmitted along C–C chain; decreases with distance (negligible after 3 bonds).
2. Resonance/Mesomeric effect: permanent; pi bond system; +R and –R effects.
3. Electromeric effect: temporary; multiple bond; disappears when reagent removed.
4. Hyperconjugation: permanent; σ–π conjugation; σ electrons of C–H of α-alkyl group delocalized; 'no bond resonance'; more α-H → more stable. Effect > inductive effect.
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