Chem 358
Advanced Organic Laboratory
A lecture/laboratory course providing hands-on training in synthetic organic chemistry. Experimental techniques covered will include: flash and thin-layer chromatography, vacuum distillation, handling air-sensitive chemicals under inert atmosphere, independent use of NMR spectrometer and spectra interpretation. Students will also learn to search databases, read primary literature, write research proposals, reports and present their results. Prerequisite: Chem 262. Eight laboratory hours per week. Lectures held once a week during the first half of the semester.
Instructors
Reviews
Chem 358 is a super fun class, so if you're interested in organic synthesis, take it. The class is essentially run by the TAs, but Dr. Birman is a core resource when working on your project. As long as your science is good and you do your best, you'll be just fine grade-wise. (Also, don't worry if you don't finish your project...most people don't.)
12/20/2023
This is a difficult advanced lab class that is meant as a preparation for graduate level work. Don't take just to satisfy advanced lab or writing intensive requirement especially if you are a premed. Overall Birman is a genius who can struggle sometimes to simplify things down to an undergraduate level, as English is not his first language.
12/18/2023
The lab was so disorganized. At the beginning of the semester, you would have no idea what you were doing in lab until you got to the class that day, and then you'd receive barely any instruction and were expected to perform the lab perfectly. By the second half of the semester, Dr. Birman would disappear from the class after five minutes.
12/10/2023