Poems

Addition Reaction for Dummies

By:  Kiara Ampuero & Williams Hicks 

Addition reactions seem really hard 

Read through this poem and you won't be scarred

Put your mind to work and it's really fine 

In fact, when you finish you will shine

Hydrohalogenation, wow! what a big word 

But it is not as difficult as you may have heard

Alkyl halides are used in this addition 

But only under the following conditions 

The major product will be controlled by Mark's Rule 

Hydrogen goes to the less substituted carbon, which we learned in school 

Dissociation of the hydrogen halide is the first step  

In this process, the Pi bond is not kept 

It ends up as a haloalkane

Which really is not a pain

Hydration is an addition where water is used

But only when it's activated with a strong acid, or it will be confused 

When treated with an aqueous acid the alkene will form an alcohol to respond

And a hydroxide group will join to the double bond 

Ethanol, isopropanol, and 2-butanol is usually what they form

Right before they hit a storm 

Halogenation is one where a bridge is used 

But let's make sure to not let it be misused 

Halogen attacks and the second halide breaks away 

But it comes back for revenge and ruins its day 

It comes from the opposite side and breaks its bridge

The product formed is a vicinal dihalide which is just a smidge 

It contains a positive charge because of two bonds 

This is the only way it can respond 

One halogen faces up while the other faces down 

It must be an inert solvent to avoid having a frown 

Halohydrin reactions seem pretty complicated

But it is pretty easy how they are operated 

Pi bond attacks the halogen molecule 

And breaks in the process which is cool

The second halogen breaks as a negative halide

Where then many solvent molecules override 

If its unsymmetrical water attacks the carbon

The one with more atoms or groups for certain 

It forms a halohydrin with a halogen on one 

And OH on another to be done 

Hydroboration-Oxidation, what a crazy name

But just like hydration, it forms an alcohol the same 

It's a two-step reaction 

Converting alkenes into alcohols across double bonds in their hobby 

When they're not kicking it with Bobby 

They do not like Mark as they're against him 

And their Hydroxyl group attaches to the less substituted carbon limb

The product formed is a racemic mixture 

When it is finally a chem fixture 

Chair Conformations 

By: Katherine Milton & Lesley Cruz

Chair conformations, difficult as they may sound

Are quite the easy task, once the key has been found.

A few connected lines, drawn the right way

Can land you a chair that will make your day.

What could possibly be the point,

Of these random connected joints?

Is the professor trying to confuse you,

If so, this will be the day they will rue!

Unfortunately, the topic isn’t a hoax,

The importance of this subject couldn’t be coaxed.

The material is actually useful,

It makes the difficulty behind cyclos neutral.

Now let us settle on down

And try hard not to frown;

Because the creation of conformations

Could be the savior to your organic qualifications.

Chairs show us that cyclohexanes

Don’t lie flat in a 2-D plane;

Rather they take a neat 3-D shape,

And can be flipped to become shipshape.

Chairs are comprised of several C-H bonds

That are divided by two as corresponds:

Axial bonds go up and down like massive poles

Equatorial go left and right like soccer goals.

Chair conformations can be flipped

Inverting them as if one tripped;

In the end only one chair will be more vital,

The other unstables will not deserve the title.

When you are given a cyclohexane,

The first thought to mind is a “How, insane!”

With all the anxiety you forget to bend it

And end up throwing a massive fit!

So take a step back and take it really easy

When you look at first glance it might make you dizzy;

Bend that cyclo and use it as a chair

To make your life and class a bit more fair!

     Oh Alkyne, Oh Alkyne

By: Jack Usher & Courtney Plante

Oh alkyne oh alkyne how can I name thee,

Don’t worry student we’ll tell you how just come take this journey with me

First identify my triple bond and name its longest chain,

It’s quite easy to name an alkyne so let’s play this simple game

 You can call this chain the parent he’ll introduce you to his substituent kids

Then identify the substituents and name them a name that is fit

Methyl, ethyl, and propyl are examples of substituent names that are not forbid

Then you must number the parent and he will not want to be split

The first part of his name is the position of his kids

These will be numbers who give their position along the parent chain

The substituents can take many forms, such as alkenes and alkanes

Next assemble the kids in alphabetical order so the name will stay neat

Then put all of this information together and then your job is complete.

We can show you how easy naming an alkyne can be,

Just stay with us a little longer and soon you will be free

Our parent chain is seven carbons long

And our three siblings have got to come along

The siblings are methyl, ethyl, and propyl and are located at positions 3, 4, and 5

They like to be alphabetical so ethyl will go first

Followed by methyl and propyl, this cannot be reversed

Putting all of this information together we have a name that jives

We call our alkyne 4 – ethyl – 5 methyl – 3 - propyl – 1 – heptyne

So next time you are in a panic to name an alkyne, remember our easy steps and all will be fine.

The Functional Groups

 Organic chemistry is fun, organic chemistry is mean,

unless you have the functional groups memorized, then it's a breeze.

Alkanes are a saturated system,

consisting of hydrocarbons and single bonds.

But be careful, too much of these in one space,

could be disastrous for anyone at your place.

Subtract a hydrogen from each carbon on an ethane,

Place a double bond in between your C bond C

And you end up with an Alkene.

Add another pi-bond to your alkene,

You get an alkyne that’s peaked on the hydrocarbon acidity physique.

Don’t forget your Ketones, Amides, and Aldehydes,

Their carbonyls are the same, but all differ by one group of the right side.

They go from R, NH2, to H.

Now you’re half way through the functional group page.

Organic chemistry is fun, organic chemistry is mean,

unless you have the functional groups memorized, then it's a breeze.

You mustn’t mistake an ester for a benzene ring,

even though both are sure to give your nose a sting.

Naphthalene’s aromaticity could give cancer to your cells,

unlike an ester with its carbonyl-OR tail.

An ether is the simplest of them all,

if you inhale these R-O-Rs, they’re sure to make you crawl.

Please remember your alcohols, alkyl halides, and amines,

Their R’s are the same but each group changes with the right side routine.

They go from OH, X, to NH2,

But only one is good to be in your brew.

Organic chemistry is fun, organic chemistry is mean,

unless you have the functional groups memorized, then it's a breeze.

Organometallic Poem

By: Dwianitra Bone & Raymond Klugey

I grew up thinking organic meant pure

However, after two semesters, I’m hardly sure

What I thought meant natural and kind

Stresses me out and racks my mind

No matter, I did not come here to fuss

There is a more important matter I must discuss.

In this chemistry realm, we like to toss favorites around

And there is just something divine about carbon compounds

I could speak forever of its four glorious bonds

But I must get on to what this poem corresponds

When a carbon and a metal huddle in to keep warm

An organometallic is what these two form

Organolithium, organocopper, and Grignard (or magnesium halide)

Are the ones we will discuss and leave all others aside

When it comes to Grignard synthesis alkyl halides and magnesium can be seen

After the reaction, somehow Mg becomes wedged in between

Organolithiums are formed by alkyl halides reacting with lithium metals

Of the two lithium atoms that react, the alkyl group is where only one Li settles

The other metal atom is carted away with the halide or the X

Now let us talk of organolithium and Grignard reactions, they will surely vex

Their negatively charged carbon attacks an aldehyde or ketone’s carbonyl

The oxygen becomes negative until hydrogen comes and shows it what is real

The aftermath of all these electron donations and withdrawals

Is the formation of primary, secondary, or tertiary alcohols

Another reaction of these two that I thought was a hoot

Is with esters, which is similar but that extra O-group gets the boot

Now on to organocuprates, which are truly unique

I will elaborate if an explanation is what you seek

Two alkyl groups, one copper atom and a lithium atom comprise

To synthesize them you need organolithium and a copper halide

Organocuprates are extremely useful and quite a sensation

Reacted with alkyl halides they give alkanes - no need for elimination

Although they are less reactive, I feel it must be stated

They excel at 1, 4-addition to aldehydes and ketones that are α,β-unsaturated

Instead of latching on to the C=O they choose the C=C to attack

So, after all the resonating has settled down the carboxyl group remains intact

Okay, my peers, I am quite sure I have shared enough

My noggin aches because for Pete’s sakes this chemistry is tough

I know now that being natural is not all organic means

It is bonds, electron, structures, and all sorts of different things

Organometallics are a part of life. Overthinking them will make you manic

…but then again you would have to be if you chose to study organic.

POEM OF TWO PHILES

Guess Opposites Really Do Attract

1, 2 Give you a clue

Lone pair, (S-) or (–)charges are signals  that I am a nucleophile

3, 4 Use meaning of name as a cue

Nucleo-phile means nucleus lover

To pinpoint receiver of my attack

5, 6 Another hint for you

Charges (S+) or (+) are good indicators of her identity

My arrow of attack goes to an Electrophile

7, 8 Our attraction proves opposites attract, to be true

While I have electrons to spare, she lacks electrons

Her room to accommodate me makes us a perfect pair

9, 10 Before I abide you adieu let me leave you with this quick review

Nucleophiles attack Electrophiles

Nucleophiles are electron rich and electrophiles are electron poor

Higher concentration of Electron on Nucleophile flow to lower concentration on electrophile

                                                                                      Attack of the nucleophile

*** All the creative ideas presented in this section are Student Generated and utilizing them in any format will require permission.

"The content of personal and other unofficial home pages is not sanctioned by Georgia Southern University and does not represent official information or opinions of the University. Shainaz Landge (slandge@georgiasouthern.edu) is solely responsible for the contents of this page."