Chemistry MSci

This module aims to provide a framework for understanding the action of heterogeneous catalysts in terms of adsorption/desorption processes and for understanding catalyst promotion in terms of chemical and structural phenomenon and also describes a wide variety of homogeneous catalytic processes based on organo-transition metal chemistry.

To provide a fundamental understanding of molecular structure and of the requirements for reactivity.

To introduce modern electronic structure theory and demonstrate how it can be applied to determine properties such as molecular structure, spectroscopy and reactivity.

This course aims to teach the relationship between structure and properties of solids, structure of Solids and characterisation.

It aims to teach a general introduction to Interfaces and Surfaces.

Palladium catalysis in organic synthesis - Tsuji-Trost pi-allyl chemistry, Heck and Stille reaction, Suzuki, Buchwald-Hartwig and Sonagashira coupling, C-H Activation, etc, with illustrative examples in synthesis.

Selectivity issues in organic synthesis Overview of reactivity principles. Synthesis of organometallics (mainly organolithiums) via metal-halogen exchange, metallation etc., including special methods of unsaturated types (Shapiro reaction, ortho-metallation) and heterosubstituted systems. Connective C=C bond formation, including Julia and Peterson olefinations (synthesis examples) and use of sulfur ylides for epoxidation and cyclopropanation. Cuprate chemistry, centred on conjugate addition-electrophilic quench sequences (regiospecfic enolates), but also including carbocupration and substitution. Protecting groups revisited, synthesis of amino acids and peptides. Stereochemistry revised, and an introduction to asymmetric synthesis, including chiral pool, chiral reagents, chial auxiliaries for enolate alkylation and amine synthesis, and catalytic asymmetric oxidation and reduction.

Use of frontier molecular orbital analysis to explain and predict stereochemical and regiochemical outcomes of pericyclic reactions (Woodward-Hoffmann rules etc). Examples will be drawn from (1) cycloadditions [4+2] (e.g. Diels-Alder, 1,3-dipolar), and [2+2]; (2) Electrocyclization reactions and selectivity rules under thermal and photochemical conditions; (3) Sigmatropic rearrangements (e.g. [3,3]- Claisen and Cope; [2,3]-Wittig, [2,3]-Still-Wittig and Mislow-Evans).

Generation and use of reactive intermediates in synthesis (i.e. radicals, carbenes, nitrenes, and arynes). Miscellaneous rearrangement reactions to electron-deficient carbon, nitrogen or oxygen.

This module covers inorganic mechanisms and the overarching fundamental principles of greener and sustainable chemistry as applied to processes, inorganic reaction mechanisms, and discussion on the theme of greener and sustainable chemistry

Transition metal chemistry. The physical methods used to study the geometric and electronic structure of transition metal centres. Metalloproteins involved in dioxygen transport, electron transfer, photosynthesis, reactions in the oxygen cycle and dinitrogen fixation. The chemistry of small molecule analogues of the active sites of metalloproteins. Supramolecular chemistry of metal-organic complexes containing multiple metal centres. The construction of metal-organic complexes such as helicates, grids, cages, knots, rotaxanes and catenanes and their application for guest binding and as the basis for molecular machines. The synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

This module increases the student's knowledge and understanding of

(a) heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis

(b) catalyst promotion and the concept of catalytic cycles. The physical basis of the structure-property relationships of heterogeneous catalysts is explained and the link between various organo-transition metal complexes and homogenous catalysis is explored. Comparisons between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis are highlighted. A review of the 18- and 16- electron rules and fundamental metal-centred bond-forming and bond-breaking reactions is undertaken and applied to several catalytic cycles. The influence of catalyst design in homogeneous catalysts, with respect to choice of metal ion and ligands, is discussed relating to product selectivity, in particular chirality. A qualitative appreciation of scale up for industrial application.

Students should gain a good appreciation of the applications for a range of enzymological, chemical and molecular biological techniques to probe cellular processes and catalysis at the forefront in chemical biology research.

This module represents a culmination of principles and techniques from a biophysical, molecular, biochemical and genetic perspective.

A general introduction to lasers, including laser radiation and its properties will be given.

A number of current laser spectroscopic methods will be reviewed, which allow the determination of vibrational frequencies and structures.

Examples will cover ground and excited state neutral molecules, radicals and complexes, as well as cations of these.

An introduction to modern diffraction methods will be given, involving neutrons, electrons and X-rays.

Applications will cover solids (crystalline and amorphous), liquids and gases.

Throughout, there will be extensive examples from the research literature.

This module will develop an understanding of protein structure, stability, design and methods of structural analysis. In addition you will understand the protein folding problem and experimental approaches to the analysis of protein folding kinetics and the application of site-directed mutagenesis.

You will also be expected to develop a number of spectroscopic experimental techniques to probe protein structures.

There will be two hours of lectures a week.

What influence does a chemist have in the modern drug discovery process? And how can chemists use their knowledge to aid the development of new therapeutics? In this module you will apply knowledge of how chemical structures influence drug potency, pharmacokinetics, and their safety. You will gain insight onto the developmental process of designing a drug and their action once they have reached their desired target.

You’ll study: 

• Drug Targets and How They Bind 
• Measuring Drug Activity 
• Lead Compounds and Strategies for Improving Drug Potency and Selectivity 
• Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Elimination) 
• Drug Design in a Safe Manner  
• Desired Drug Properties