66327 - Chemistry of Natural Organic Substances

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Chemistry (cod. 8856)

Learning outcomes

The course will give competencies in natural product chemistry, in main classes of natural products their occurrence, structure, biosynthesis, and properties. The course will  give a holistic understanding of the use of natural products as starting materials for bioactive products.

After successful completion of this course, students should be able to understand  the issues of natural product chemistry, recognize  structure and molecular classification of a representative number of compounds belonging to the main classes of natural products,  know the relevance of selected natural compounds, their biogenesis, and some chemical elaboration.

Course contents

The most important classes of natural organic compounds will be analyzed in terms of chemical structure, biogenesis, stereochemistry, physico-chemical properties, and reactivity.

 Carbohydrate: Natural glycans and glycosides. Protecting Group strategies in the synthesis of glycosides. Stereoselective synthesis of glycosides. Glycolipids and glycoproteins.

Terpenes and Steroids: Classification, structures and some chemical and bio-catalytic transformations. Essential oils: extraction and components.

Alcaloids: classification, structures, and biogenesis.

Polyketides: classification, structures and biogenesis.

Good knowledge of functional groups and reactivity in organic chemistry is strongly required. Basic knowledge of  simple aminoacids, carbohydrates, and lipids is recommended. 

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture Notes

Chimica, Biosintesi e Bioattività delle Sostanze Naturali -P.M. Dewick- Piccin

Introduction to Natural products Chemistry - Xu,Ye, Zhao, CRC Press

Chemistry of Natural Products , N.R. Krishnaswamy, CRC Press

Bioactive Natural Products - Colegate, Molyneaux, CRC Press

Teaching methods

Lessons consist in oral sessions that include presentation of examples by the current literature and discussions.

An active student participation to the discussion session is strongly recommended  to develop problem solving skills.

Assessment methods

Viva voce examination (Italian or English)

Teaching tools

Oral lectures and few computer presentations.
Take notes during the lectures is mandatory.

Office hours

See the website of Daria Giacomini