MChem Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 21/22 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. 

Organometallics in synthesis (Prof Igor Larrosa, 8 lectures)

• Applications of main group metal complexes to organic synthesis
• Directed C-H metallation of organic substrates using organolithiums.
• Organocuprate chemistry
• Organogold catalysis for alkene and alkyne functionalisation
• Catalytic C-H activation using transition metals

Transition metal catalysis (Prof M Greaney, 8 lectures)

• Palladium-catalysed cross coupling using  Stille, Suzuki, and related methods
• The Heck reaction
• Palladium-catalysed C-N and C-O bond formation
• C-H activation in synthesis
• Alkene and alkyne metathesis in synthesis

Total Synthesis (Dr G Crisenza, 8 lectures)

• The importance and value of total synthesis
• Planning synthesis by recognising key disconnections based on the functional groups present
• Strategic application of named and common organic reactions in complex settings
• Rationalising substrate controlled stereoselectivity
• Reagents used to interconvert common functional groups
• The power of ring forming reactionsMulticomponent and cascade reactions

• To provide an up-to-date account of modern methods in synthetic organic chemistry, with an emphasis on transition metal catalysis
• To cover key transformations in depth and to put them in context in synthesis
• To cover the strategies employed in the total synthesis of complex natural products

Students should be able to:

• Appreciate how modern synthetic organic chemistry is conducted
• Propose plausible organometallic synthetic strategies or routes to complex organic structures
• Propose suitable reagents for given transformations
• Be able to suggest mechanistic or strategic rationales for given synthetic routes
• Understand the principle mechanisms of transition metal catalysed cross coupling, C-H activation, and metathesis reactions
• Have an appreciation of the importance and value of total synthesis

Unseen Examination 

• Problem-solving skills that involve applying the information learned to unseen organic transformations and syntheses
• Time management and organisational skills (ability to work independently and to work efficiently and effectively)

• Members of staff will provide written or verbal feedback on specific questions that students may have on any aspect of the course.
• In addition, a detailed set of answers will be available for all questions set by the staff members. The answer sheets will be made available in lectures and will be able to be downloaded from Blackboard.
• Staff will also give feedback on attempts made on past exam papers and will be able to provide an approximate classification.
• Students are encouraged to work through the problem sheets supplied on Blackboard and submit answers to the lecturers for feedback.

• J. Clayden, N. Greeves, S. Warren, P. Wothers "Organic Chemistry" Oxford University Press