This course focuses on the mechanisms, stereochemistry, and synthetic applications of reactions involving carbanions or potential carbanions with various carbonyl compounds. Key topics include:

Mechanisms:

• Formation of Carbanions: Understanding the conditions and reagents that favor carbanion formation.
• Reaction Pathways: Detailed study of the mechanisms through which carbanions react with carbonyl compounds, including nucleophilic addition and substitution reactions.

Stereochemistry:

• Stereochemical Outcomes: Analysis of the stereochemical outcomes of reactions involving carbanions.
• Chirality and Configuration: Understanding how carbanion reactions can create or influence chiral centers and the implications for the stereochemical configuration of products.

Synthetic Applications:

• Aldol Reactions: Utilizing carbanions in aldol reactions for the formation of β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds.
• Michael Additions: Applications of carbanions in Michael additions for the formation of 1,4-addition products.
• Enolate Chemistry: Use of enolates (a type of carbanion) in various synthetic transformations, including the formation of C-C bonds.
• Organometallic Reagents: Employing organometallic reagents (e.g., Grignard and organolithium reagents) in synthetic strategies involving carbanions.
• Carbonyl Compound Reactions: Comprehensive study of carbanion reactions with aldehydes, ketones, esters, amides, and other carbonyl-containing compounds.