Why is life often called a carbon-based phenomenon?
What are the properties of C that allow its versatility?
Chemistry of C termed organic chemistry.
If biochemistry is the chemistry of life processes,
then biochemistry is the organic chemistry of life processes.
A knowledge of organic chemistry fundamental to an understanding of biochemistry
What is the atomic structure of C?
Properties of functional groups.
1. Aliphatic: hydrocarbons: methane, ethane, propane, etc
uncharged, non-polar, hydrophobic
2. Alcohols: R-OH, methanol, ethanol, etc
uncharged but polar, hydrophilic, dipole and H-bond interactions.
3. Carbonyl group: >C=O, aldehydes, RCHO, ketones, R-CO-R
uncharged but polar, dipole and H-bond interactions
4. Carboxyl group: R-COOH, weak acids, weak proton donors, partial dissociation, buffers charge interactions
5. Amines: R-NH2, uncharged but polar, dipole and H-bond interactions
a base, like ammonia = proton acceptor, which will then become:
R-NH3+, charged, weak acid, proton acceptor.
6. Phosphate group: derived from phosphoric acid, H3PO4
R-CH2-OPO3
charge interactions
transfer of energy between molecules
Isomerism: what are isomers?
What are the different types of isomers?
Think of two bio-molecules with more than one functional group per molecule.
Chemical reactions of functional groups:
What is the product of the oxidation of alcohols?
R-CH2OH -->
What is the product of the reduction of aldehydes?
R-CHO + [2H] -->
What is the product of the oxidation of aldehydes?
R-CHO + [O] -->
What is the product of the reduction of acids?
R-COOH -->
What is the product of the reduction of a ketone?
R-CO-R + [2H] -->
Chemical reactions between functional groups
condensation of an acid with an alcohol gives an ester
reversible condensation and hydrolysis
R-COOH + HO-R' <--> R-CO-O-R' + H2O
with phosphoric acid the product is a phosphate ester
H3PO4 + HO-R <--> H2PO4-R + H2O
condensation of an acid with an acid gives an anhydride
reversible condensation and hydrolysis
R-COOH + HOOC-R <--> R-CO-O-CO-R + H2O
acetic anhydride
H3PO4 + H3PO4 <--> H2PO3-O-H2PO3 + H2O
phosphoric anhydride found in ATP
condensation of an acid with an amine gives an amide
for 2 amino acids --> peptide, and multiple amino acids --> protein
R-COOH + H2N-R' <--> R-CO-NH-R' + H20
Can C form ring structures as well as straight or branched chains?
How big are the rings?
Are the rings puckered or planar?
Can C rings be formed that contain other elements?
Ring structures may contain O and N atoms: heterocyclic rings
What are examples of heterocyclic rings?
What will be the chemical properties of such compounds?
What will be the chemical properties of ATP?
Return to BICH 107 page.