CH3O2-Advanced Organic Chemistry - Contemporary Synthetic Methodology

Module Provider: Chemistry
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Chris Smith
Email: c.d.smith@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Dr Philippa Cranwell
Email: p.b.cranwell@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The course aims to relate advanced topics in organic chemistry to topics covered in previous modules and provide a foundation of knowledge to enable a better understanding of the primary chemical literature.

Aims:

The course aims to relate advanced topics in organic chemistry to subject areas covered in previous modules and provide a foundation of knowledge to enable a better understanding of the primary chemical literature.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students who have successfully completed this module will be able to:

• Describe the use of a variety of metal-based reagents in organic synthesis.


• Construct relatively complex organic molecules revealing synthetic strategies for target synthesis.


• Be able to describe the rules governing pericyclic reactions and outline their use in organic synthesis.

Additional outcomes:

Through the provision of lectures and tutorials students will develop a broader appreciation of the expansive nature of modern synthetic organic chemistry. The ability of each student to understand and apply this knowledge will be developed via a number of small group tutorials.Ìý

Outline content:

Advanced Organometallic Chemistry (5 lectures): Principles and special features of reactions catalysed by transition metal complexes. The course will focus on cyclisation reactions and the Suzuki, Heck and Stille reactions.

Orbital Symmetry (5 lectures): Electrocyclisations, sigmatropic rearrangements, and cycloadditions. Frontier molecular orbital rules for stereochemical and regiochemical prediction.

Heterocyclic Chemistry (5 l ectures): Synthesis and reactions of pyrroles, furans, thiophenes, indoles, pyridines, quinolines and isoquinolines.

Advanced Organic Synthesis and Retrosynthetic Analysis (5 lectures): Strategies involved in the construction of complex natural products. The central role of the carbonyl group in retrosynthetic analysis will be reviewed. The synthesis of a range of structurally complex molecules will be described.Ìý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Weekly lectures with two workshops on related material and tutorials.