Organic Chemistry

Autorentext

Dr Jeffrey J. Deakin earned a BSc degree in chemistry with first class honors from the University of London followed by a PhD degree in physical chemistry from the University of Cambridge.

As a teacher of science, Jeff headed chemistry and physics departments in grammar and comprehensive schools in the UK. He has written books and numerous articles aimed at demystifying chemistry and broadening interest in the subject.

Jeff is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry in London. He was a member of the Curriculum and Assessment Working Group at the Royal Society of Chemistry, which recently reviewed the national curriculum in chemistry in each of the four home nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Klappentext

Human benefit from the organic chemistry of plants is incalculable in terms of health, food, comfort and security. Indeed, the future well-being of humanity rests in significant measure upon a responsible relationship with the plant kingdom in order to re-establish balance in the Earth's natural environmental systems.

Inhalt

PART I Introduction

Organic Chemistry

Context: miraculous chemicals from plants

Notes

PART II Medical Marvels

Introduction

Central America's Humble Potato

Steroids

The search for the modern birth control pill - hormones, estrogen and progesterone

Isolation of natural diosgenin from the Mexican potato

Chemical magic in the laboratory - synthesis of norethindrone

Biological studies of progesterone to prevent ovulation

Medical approval and social acceptance

The profound social, cultural and economic impacts of reliable, oral contraception

Transformation of production

Hydrocarbons

Saturated hydrocarbons, alkanes and cycloalkanes

Crude Oil and industrial fractional distillation

Benzene and aromatic compounds - physical and chemical properties

Theory of the molecular structure of benzene

Summary of the characteristics of aromatic compounds

Europe Solves a Headache! Emergence of Aspirin

Salicin and salicylic acid

Carboxylic acids

Phenol and phenolic compounds

Acetylation of the hydroxyl group of salicyclic acid to form aspirin

Attacking Malaria: a South American Treasure (but not gold) and a Chinese Miracle

Malaria

Cinchona

Isolation of quinine

Synthesis of quinine in the laboratory

Uses of quinine

Artemisinin

Carbon - oxygen single bonds

Oxygen - oxygen single bonds

The peroxide bridge in artemisinin

A Steroid in your Garden

The Foxglove and digoxigenin

Esters are formed from alcohols and acids

Properties and uses of esters

Introducing cyclic esters, known as lactones

Lactones as building blocks in nature

Commercial uses of lactones

Vitamins

Vitamin C, ascorbic acid

Africa's Gift to the World

Discovery of the periwinkle plant and its properties

Serendipity

Modern research and therapeutic value

The alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine

Isolation of vincristine and vinblastine from plants

Saving the Pacific Yew Tree

The nature of paclitaxel

Medical value of paclitaxel

Modern day preparation of paclitaxel

Terpenes and isoprene as a building block in nature

Isomers

Isomers and stereo-chemistry

Isomers and chirality

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular structure

Vaccines, Adjuvants and Chemistry

Vaccines

Adjuvants

A vaccine against COVID-19

Natural sources of saponin

New biochemical approaches

Molecular biochemistry

PART III Nutrition - Ancient and Modern Miracles

Introduction

Rediscovering traditional grains of the Americas - chia and quinoa

Chia

Quinoa

Gluten sensitivity

Lipids

Fats, oils and human health

Waxes

Vegetable oil and bio-diesel

Wheat - ancient and modern

Possible origins of ancient wheat

Modern wheat varieties

Nutritional importance and the grinding of wheat

Importance of proteins

Peptide bond

Condensation reaction

Proteins and amino acids

The molecular structure of proteins and NMR

Fascinating influence of chirality on life systems on Earth

The shikimic acid pathway and phenylpropanoids

Sustainability and society's challenges in enhancing agricultural production - crop yield and 'green issues' including genetic modification of crops

DNA and RNA

Asian Staple - Rice

Carbohydrates and saccharides; oxygen in the organic ring

Monosaccharides

Disaccharides

The glycoside link

Oligosaccharides

Polysaccharides

Chemical properties of carbohydrates - monosaccharides

The value of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides to living organisms

Human nutrition

Optical isomerism

Chinese Cordyceps - Winter Worm, Summer Grass

The life cycle of Cordyceps sinensis

The perceived health benefits of Cordyceps sinensis

What is fermentation?

Organic chemistry of fermentation

Industrial production of bio-ethanol

PART IV Beverages

Introduction

Tea: From Legend to Healthy Obsession

The tea plant

Historical notes on tea as a beverage

The growing and processing of tea

Tea and possible health benefits

Catechins - the key phenolic constituents in green tea

The properties of phenol and phenols

Phenols compared to alcohols

Electrophilic substitution reactions of phenol

Interaction with light in the visible part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation

Cacao (Cocoa): Food of the Gods

Origins

Processing cacao beans

First chocolate as a medicine

Cocoa and cardiac health

Cocoa and diabetes

Chemical constituents of cocoa

Free radicals and anti-oxidants

Flavonoids (or polyphenol compounds)

Coffee: Wake Up and Smell the Aroma!

Early Use

Coffee and caffeine

Zwitterions

Cyclic aromatic amines

The extraction process of decaffeination of coffee

I: solvent extraction using water

II: solvent extraction using dichloromethane (DCM)

III: supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Maca from the High Andes in South America

The maca plant

Maca as a beverage and a food

The medicinal value of maca

Chemical composition of maca

Key chemical properties of indole

Electrophilic substitution

Indole and bases

Acid-base extraction

Purification of indole alkaloids by acid-base extraction

Indole alkaloids

Strychnine

Ergotamine

LSD

Curare

PART V Euphorics

Introduction

Morphine: A Double-Edged Sword

The double-edged sword

The production of morphine in the natural world

Purification, chemical composition and properties of morphine

Chemical composition and properties of codeine

Chemical composition and properties of heroin

Medicinal uses of morphine

Cannabis and Marijuana

Cannabis

Introducing cannabinoids

Terpenes

Classification of terpenes

Terpenes and elimination reactions

Condensation reaction

Coca and Cocaine

Coca and the coca plant

Cocaine

Chemical properties of cocaine

Isolation of cocaine

Legitimate applications of cocaine

Tobacco: a profound impact on the World

Tobacco

Nicotine

Amines

Heterocyclic aromatic compounds

Pyridine

Pyrrole

Thiophen

Amides

Properties of nicotine

Uses of Nicotine

Agriculture

Human Health and Pharmacy

PART VI Exotic Potions, Lotions and Oils

Introduction

A Plant from the East Indies, Camphor

**The classification and structure of camphor

Diverse uses of camphor

Extraction of camphor by steam distillation

The carbonyl group and nucleophilic addition reactions

Infra-red spectroscopy and the determination of the structure of organic molecules

Atmospheric absorption of infra-red radiation; greenhouse effect

Methane, carbon dioxid…