BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

CH323: ADVANCED ORGANIC CHEMISTRY ASSIGNMENT 1

1 (a) Explain why thioesters are used as chain extenders instead of oxygen
esters in the acetate pathway [4].

(b) Describe the chemical test that can be used to distinguish an alkaloid from
from a triterpene [2].

(c) (i) What type of compound is cholesterol [1]

(ii) Describe the functions of cholesterol in in humans [4]

(d) (i) Draw a general structure of a phenolic compound [2]

(iii) Using examples describe the use of tannins as medicines [4]

2 Outline the biosynthesis of carotenoids [8]

3 Differentiate the acetate pathway from mevalonate pathway [10]

4 (a) (i) Show the product of the following reaction [2]

H3C
CH3
CH3
CH3
H
S u n lig h t
H H

HO

7-dehydrocholesterol

(ii) Describe the application of this reaction in food industries [2].

(iii) Perform a retrosynthetic analysis of the molecule below

OH

H3C
CH3
N
OH

H3C phenol
[10]
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