Teaching Physical Organic Chemistry with the Latest Literature: An Illustrative Example on Radical Philicity and Reactivity

Physical organic chemistry is a core subject for graduate students in organic chemistry, yet it is often considered highly challenging due to its abstract theories and mechanistic complexities. To improve comprehension of core concepts within a constrained curriculum, we have investigated various active learning strategies over the past five years. Among these, the integration of the latest research literature proved to be particularly effective. This paper details a case study using a selection of recent publications to teach radical philicity and reactivity. This two-hour module was designed with clear learning objectives for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students: to determine radical philicity, predict reaction rates and selectivities, and apply these concepts to current research problems. Analysis of student performance and feedback indicates that this literature-based approach not only successfully achieved these learning goals but also fostered a deeper interest in the subject and enhanced engagement with the primary research literature.