Freshman Organic Chemistry (CHEM 125)
It is important that chemists agree on notation and nomenclature in order to communicate molecular constitution and configuration. It is best when a diagram is as faithful as possible to the 3-dimensional shape of a molecule, but the conventional Fischer projection, which has been indispensable in understanding sugar configurations for over a century, involves highly distorted bonds. Ambiguity in diagrams or words has led to multibillion-dollar patent disputes involving popular drugs. International agreements provide descriptive, unambiguous, unique, systematic "IUPAC" names that are reasonably convenient for most organic molecules of modest molecular weight.
00:00 - Chapter 1. The Development of the Fischer Projections
16:27 - Chapter 2. Diastereomers and Enantiomers in van't Hoff's Brochure
23:14 - Chapter 3. Notation Ambiguities and Multibillion Dollar Pharmaceutical Disputes
39:26 - Chapter 4. The IUPAC and the Standardization of Molecular Nomenclature
Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses
This course was recorded in Fall 2008.
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