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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Chemistry

Undergraduate Course: Synthetic Organic Chemistry Level 11 (CHEM11026)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA lecture course covering contemporary synthetic methods in organic chemistry, and their application to complex molecule synthesis. The course comprises individual lectures courses on: Template-directed Synthesis, Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Solid Phase Synthesis, Organometallics in Synthesis, Pericyclic Reactions and Asymmetric Base Catalysis. Either the Level 10 or Level 11 version of this course (as specified in the degree programme tables) is a compulsory requirement for Year 4/5 students on degrees in Chemistry or Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, but can be taken by Year 4/5 students on any Chemistry degree programme.
Course description The course contains the 6 lecture courses outlined above, each with an associated small group tutorial. The final examination consists of a total of six questions, one from each of the lecture modules. Students must answer 4 questions from these 6 options.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Chemistry 3A (CHEM09005) AND Chemistry 3B (CHEM09006) AND Chemistry 3P Practical and Transferable Skills (CHEM09007)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Synthetic Organic Chemistry Level 10 (CHEM10024)
Other requirements Must include a weighted average of Grade C or higher in all Chemistry 3 courses AND a weighted average of Grade D or higher in Chemistry 3A and Chemistry 3B, at the first attempt; or with the permission of Head of School.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. To show a detailed understanding of the principles behind various pericyclic reactions, such as cycloadditions, electrocyclic reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements and group transfer reactions. To be able to use Frontier Molecular Orbital Theory (underpinned by the concept of Conservation of Orbital Symmetry) to analyse and predict pericyclic reactions.
  2. To be able understand and exploit the chemistry of a range of main group-containing reagents as applied to complex organic targets. To appreciate and be able to show detailed mechanistic understanding to explain the use of organic and main-group nucleophilic catalysts, and how these can be applied to the construction of asymmetric organic molecules. To understand the key principles and show a critical awareness of contemporary modern organometallic methods in organic synthesis, including both stoichiometric and catalytic procedures.
  3. To have a detailed understanding of the principles behind solid phase synthetic methods, with particular insight when applied to peptide synthesis. To be able to critically evaluate the use of a different solid-phase methods and reagents, and predict how these could be applied to complex synthetic targets. To appreciate the role that solid phase organic synthesis plays in the pharmaceutical industry, and to be able to contrast and compare the use of combinatorial chemistry against conventional synthetic methods as a tool for screening against biological targets.
  4. To be able to appreciate and readily predict how weak non-covalent or metal-ligand interactions can be used in the synthesis of topologically non-trivial and functional organic molecules using a detailed understanding of the concepts from supramolecular chemistry. To be able to appreciate and describe the principles behind various 'designer' molecules, showing a critical awareness of how this field has developed, from the evolution of simple switches through to more complex molecular machines.
  5. Level 11 students are expected to demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of advanced, specialised and contemporary synthetic organic chemistry methods. They should be able to express original thinking, solve problems and communicate ideas and concepts to a high standard. They should also be able to demonstrate independent thought, autonomy and initiative in learning.
Reading List
"Organic Chemistry", Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers, Oxford Press.
Additional reading material for each module will be provided by the course lecturer in lecture 1 of each course.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information 30 hours lectures + 6 hours tutorials, at times arranged.
KeywordsSOC(L11)
Contacts
Course organiserDr Paul Lusby
Tel: (0131 6)50 4832
Email: Paul.Lusby@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Craig Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 4710
Email: c.smith34@ed.ac.uk
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