Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
CHEM4441 Advanced organic chemistry (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Chemistry Quota 40
Course Co-ordinator Prof J He, Chemistry < jianhe@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof J He,Chemistry)
(Prof Z X Huang,Chemistry)
Course Objectives To provide students with knowledge in organic chemistry reaction mechanisms and organic compound structure determination.
Course Contents & Topics The course covers chemical bonding, advanced stereochemistry, conformational analysis, techniques for investigating reaction mechanisms, reactive intermediates, rearrangement reactions, and pericyclic reactions.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe, analyze and interpret the structure and reactivity relationship of organic molecules
CLO 2 identify and predict the selectivities (chemoselectivity, regioselectivity and stereoselectivity) in organic reactions
CLO 3 describe the general approaches to study organic mechanisms
CLO 4 have a general understanding and working knowledge of pericyclic reactions, reactive intermediates (radicals, carbenes and nitrenes), and polar rearrangements
CLO 5 suggest reasonable mechanistic pathways for some types of organic reactions
CLO 6 apply the knowledge of reaction mechanisms in design of synthetic routes for organic compounds
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in CHEM3441
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2025 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Chemistry ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,5 >
2025 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,5 >
2024 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,5 >
2024 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,5 >
2023 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,5 >
2022 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry < PLO 1,2,5 >
2021 Major in Chemistry (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,5 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 12.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 25.0 1,2,3,4,5,6
Examination 50.0 1,2,3,4,5,6
Test 25.0 1,2,3,4,5,6
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 F.A. Carey and R.J. Sunberg, "Advanced Organic Chemistry, Part-A: Structure and Mechanism", 5th Ed.: Springer, 2007.
"Organic Chemistry", by Paula Y. Bruice, 2016, 8th Edition, Pearson, with e-text and Mastering Chemistry.
I. Fleming, "Pericyclic Reactions", Oxford University Press, 1999.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information This course is also offered to RPg students, and the course code for RPg students is CHEM6114.


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