Module CHEM4481: ADVANCED RESEARCH CONCEPTS IN CHEMISTRY

Department: Chemistry

CHEM4481: ADVANCED RESEARCH CONCEPTS IN CHEMISTRY

Prerequisites

• Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) AND two from [Inorganic Concepts and Applications (CHEM3097) OR Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM3117) OR Molecules and their Interactions (CHEM3137)].

Corequisites

• Core Chemistry 4 (CHEM4311).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Bioactive Chemistry 4 (CHEM4211) OR Chemical Physics 4 (CHEM4411) OR Chemistry and Society (CHEM3061).

Aims

• To demonstrate contemporary research concepts in chemistry, chemical physics and chemistry at the interface with biology.

Content

• D - Metals in Medicine
• E - Recent developments and applications of solid-state NMR spectroscopy
• F - Research concepts in heterogeneous catalysis
• M - Carbenes in Organocatalysis
• N - Organofluorine Chemistry
• O - Bioorganic Chemistry of Phosphorus
• U - Medicinal Chemistry II - From hit to pill
• V - Cold and Ultracold Molecules
• W - Advanced Electrochemistry
• [*Each student will follow six lecture courses. The choice will depend on modules taken at level-3 and student choice.]

Learning Outcomes

• After attending the relevant lecture courses, students should be able to:
• D1 - Discuss the properties and reactions of metal complexes that make them suitable as therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases;
• E1 - Appreciate the role of solid-state NMR spectroscopy in the characterisation of solids and the information that can be extracted/obtained;
• E2 - Identify and explain the main interactions in solid-state NMR and their effect on NMR spectra;
• F1 - Understand and appreciate current major research concepts in understanding how heterogeneous catalytic processes work (beyond Y2 surface science and Y3 catalysis courses);
• F2 - Appreciate the necessity for and methods available for understanding and measuring active sites and following catalytic processes in operando
• F3 - Understand the importance of both single crystal and nanostructured models for understanding heterogeneous catalytic mechanisms;
• F4 - Appreciate how fundamental scientific approaches are being used in real world applications through specific case studies of “hot reactions” relevant to current global challenges, e.g., solar energy harvesting or bio-refineries for chemicals production;
• M1 - Identify different classes of carbene organocatalysts and synthetic routes to these catalysts;
• M2 - Discuss typical mechanisms of reactions enabled by carbenes including acyl anion, Lewis base and azolium enolate catalysis;
• N1 - Describe several methods for the introduction of fluorine atoms into organic systems;
• N2 - Discuss reactivity and mechanisms of fluoroalkenes, aromatics, heterocyclics and ‘mirror-image’ chemistry of related hydrocarbon systems;
• O1 - Appreciate the roles of phosphate esters in biological systems;
• O2 - Describe and explain the mechanistic spectrum of phosphoryl transfer reactions;
• O3 - Understand and predict the reactivities of analogues of phosphate esters;
• O4 - Understand how analogues of phosphate esters can be applied to problems in chemical biology;
• U1 - Understand the process of developing a successful "hit" from drug discovery into a final product;
• U2 - Understand the importance of solid-state forms and their characterisation for drug pharmacokinetics and patenting;
• V1 - Understand what is meant by the terms cold and ultracold and how the behaviour of molecules in these regimes of temperature differs from behaviour at higher temperatures;
• V2 - Describe the various experimental techniques employed to produce cold and ultracold molecules and know the current state of the art in experiment and theory;
• V3 - Appreciate the many applications of cold and ultracold molecules to contemporary problems in modern chemistry and physics;
• W1 - Describe fundamentals of electrochemical reactions at a molecular level;
• W2 - Apply knowledge of electrochemical reactions and techniques to problem solving

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Facts and new concepts are introduced in the lecture courses.
• Students' knowledge and understanding is tested by examination.
• Undergraduates are aided in the learning process by workshops where they attempt sample problems.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Workshop problems.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University