The range of applications of organic compounds is enormous and organic chemistry overlaps with many areas, including medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, organometallic chemistry, polymer chemistry and many aspects of materials science. Thus, in the modern society, knowledge within organic chemistry is required within a wide range of disciplines, as  demonstrated by the fact that organic synthetic products serve as e.g. plastics, drugs, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, nano-molecular devices, food additives, pigments, flavorings, fibers, clothing, petrochemicals, explosives and paints. Additionally, organic chemistry deals with life and life processes, being associated with nearly every aspect of our existence.  All the key molecules of life, such as DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, are organic compounds, furnishing the energy that sustains life.
Organic chemistry traditionally includes the chemistry of fuels. Currently, the activity is increasingly connected to energy related sciences, such as energy capture and storage. Due to environmental problems arising by unwanted consequences of organic chemicals previously introduced to the environment, the development of environment-friendly (sustainable) processes has become an interesting and challenging field of organic chemistry.

Key subtopics presently covered by the activity at the Section of Organic Chemistry includes catalysis, organometallic chemistry, chemistry of polyenes, chemo- regio- and enantioselective synthesis, heterocyclic chemistry, fluoro-containing compounds and NMR. The application of analytical tools, such as advanced NMR and other spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques are important components of all these research activities. You will find more about the research within organic chemistry here.

Some current research projects are:

•    Development of new cancer treatment agents by kinase inhibition;
•    Synthesis of anti-bacterial agents based on marine natural products;
•    Synthesis of polyenes, modification of polyenes, polyenes as gene carriers;
•    Gold catalysed chemo-, regio- and enantioselective synthesis;
•    Enzyme catalysed chemo-, regio- and enantioselective synthesis;
•    New anti-inflammatory compounds from plant.

Through a master in Organic Chemistry, you will get an excellent knowledge of modern theoretical and experimental organic chemistry. Your master project will give you a solid background for planning and applying a variety of organic synthetic methods in experimental research projects. You will gain experience in how the outcome, yields and selectivity of your reactions may be improved by optimization of reaction conditions. Additionally, your investigations will give you important mechanistic understanding of the theoretical basis of organic processes.

Today, NTNU is the university in Norway educating most organic chemists, being regarded as skillful synthetic chemists and well trained within analytical organic chemistry. Organic chemists from NTNU work within industry, research and administration both in Norway and abroad.