CHE-30039 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

Building on key concepts introduced in years 1 and 2, this module develops some advanced ideas in organic chemistry. Including transition-metal catalysis, pericyclic reactions and main-group organoelement chemistry, the chemical reaction types covered are at the heart of modern organic synthesis and have led to a number of Nobel prizes. Real-world examples from across the industrial spectrum (e.g. pharmaceuticals, fine-chemicals, materials) will be used to highlight just how useful these reactions are to society. The lecture content will be highly integrated with the course-work component, which will include a synthesis-design exercise and a video presentation aimed at placing the course material in the context of real-world synthetic applications. This will develop useful career skills and provide valuable insight into the type of technical questioning typically used during recruitment in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries.

to build upon theories and concepts in Organic Chemistry introduced at Levels 4 and 5;
to develop skills for the application of Organic Chemistry to the synthesis of high-value products including pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals;
to develop analytical, problem solving and organisational skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe the mechanism of a variety of useful transition-metal catalysed organic reactions in terms of a sequence of fundamental mechanistic sub-processes: 1,2
analyse and predict the stereospecific outcomes of a variety of pericyclic organic reactions according to the ¿conservation of orbital symmetry¿ (using both the Frontier-Molecular-Orbital approach and the Woodward-Hoffmann rules)
: 1,2
describe and explain how the bonding and electronic structure in a variety of main-group organoelement molecules influences the reaction chemistry displayed by these species: 1,2
apply knowledge gained of the chemical reaction types covered in the course to the planning and design of efficient syntheses of a variety of industrially important target molecules: 1,2

Study hours

lectures 18 hours;
problem classes and workshops 6 hours;
preparation for synthesis design exercise 20 hours;
preparation for video presentation 20 hours;
completion of formative open-book exercises 3 hours;
independent study 83 hours.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment