Module 1 : Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry

Lecture 1 : Defining Bioorganic Chemistry

1.1. Overview of Bioorganic Chemistry

1.1.1 What is Biological Chemistry? Chemical Biology? And Bio-Organic Chemistry?

Definition of Biological Chemistry:
Biological Chemistry is the understanding how biological processes are controlled by underlying chemical principles.

Definition of Chemical Biology:
Chemical Biology is defined as the development and use of techniques of chemistry for the study of biological phenomena.

Definition of Bioorganic Chemistry:
Bioorganic Chemistry can be defined as a branch of chemistry or broadly speaking a branch of science which utilizes the principles, tools and techniques of organic chemistry to the understanding of biochemical/biophysical process.
As for example, the classical chemistry of natural products with its characteristic triad of isolation, structural proof and total synthesis is an evident, but purely organic ancestor. Likewise, inquiry into the biosynthetic pathways for the same natural products is plain biochemistry. But when the total synthesis of a neutral product explicitly is based upon the known route of biosynthesis or if the biosynthesis has been translated into structural and mechanistic organic chemical language, one is clearly dealing with bioorganic chemistry.
Organic chemistry deals with:-Structure Design, synthesis, and kinetics (physical organic).

  1. Structure Design: It guides us of how potential the interaction between structures and the biological partners.
  2. Synthesis: Synthesis provides us with compounds which might be the analogue or the mimic of natural species and may not have created in sufficient quantity for investigation by nature.
  3. Kinetics: Physical organic chemistry and analytical methodology provide quantitative measures and intimate details of reaction pathways.

Biochemistry deals with study of life processes by means of biochemical methodology.