MChem Chemistry

Green Chemistry

The unit of three sections defines the concepts of Green Chemistry and showcases how these apply via examples in Process Chemistry.  

Novel Feedstocks

showing how renewable feedstocks can replace petrochemical sources of chemicals.  

Industrial Biotechnology

- Industrial biotechnology in the chemical industry.

- The need to develop sustainable manufacturing processes based on renewable resources.

- The chemistry of enzymes and enzyme mechanisms

- Cases studies from the pharmaceutical, materials and fine chemical industries exemplifying the advantages and disadvantages of enzymatic transformations. 

The unit aims to:

- give students an insight into current challenges in chemistry based on prior core-chemistry learning

- enable students to appreciate the role chemistry plays in tackling societal problems relating to sustainability, energy, environment, manufacturing and healthcare.

- promote a Socially Responsible attitude amongst Chemistry Graduates in the application of their chemical knowledge.

On successful completion of the course students should be able to:  

ILO1.1 Describe the key reactions and processes used in chemical industries;

ILO1.2 Explain the problems associated with performing large scale chemical syntheses;

ILO1.3 Appraise and apply the factors which contribute to the design and execution of efficient chemical syntheses.

ILO2.1 Compare petrochemical routes with non-petrochemical routes for a range of targets.

ILO2.2 Describe the common renewable organic feedstocks, cellulose and sugars, lignin, CO2, fats, and Syngas, and how they may be converted to valued products.

ILO2.3 Compare and contrast the potential to replace petrochemical product with identical molecules sourced from alternative starting points, or with different molecules which are easier to access from those alternative starting points.

ILO2.4 Apply mechanistic understanding of key reactions in this field.

ILO3.1 Apply basic, introductory understanding of molecular biology and biochemical engineering to unseen biotechnology processes;

ILO3.2 Describe and explain enzymatic transformations using core knowledge of organic chemistry, chemical reactivity and mechanism;

ILO3.3 Compare and contrast classical chemical routes to pharmaceuticals and other chemicals with newer enzymatic strategies in terms of environmental and sustainability issues. 

Green and Process Chemistry

Designing cleaner, more efficient reactions: use of catalysis, enzymes, light and renewable feedstocks

Exemplification of route design and optimization: what makes a good process?

Key bond-forming reactions in industrial chemistry: what are the problems?

Selected case histories from the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries

Novel Feedstocks for Green Chemistry  

Survey of common materials currently sourced from petrochemicals

Discussion of alternative renewable feedstocks to replace petrochemical feedstocks: sugars,

lignin, biomass, CO2.

Industrial Biotechnology

- Introduction to Industrial Biotechnology

- Case Study 1: Lipase / Esterase / Hydrolase Biocatalysts and Industrial Synthesis of Pregabalin

- Case Study 2: Ketoreductase / Alcohol Dehydrogenase Biocatalysts and Industrial Synthesis of Montelukast

- Case Study 3: Transaminase (Aminotransferase) Biocatalysts and Industrial Synthesis of Sitagliptin

- Case Study 4: Amino Acid Oxidase Biocatalysts and Industrial Semisynthesis of Cephalosporin Antibiotics

- Case Study 5: Aldolase Biocatalysts and Industrial Synthesis of Statins (Crestor and Lipitor)

- Case Study 6: Nitrile Hydratase Biocatalysts and Industrial Synthesis of Acrylamide 

Lectures supported by online materials

• Concept assimilation;
• Problem-solving skills;
• Analysis and interpretation of data from analytical techniques;
• Numeric skills;
• Ability to apply a logical approach to chemical synthesis.

•    Concept assimilation

Problem-solving skills

•    Numeracy and mathematical skills

•    Analytical skills

•    Time management and organisational skills

•    Organizational skills

•    Ethical behaviour 

Further reading:

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

For the industrial biotechnology course there is no recommended text but the lectures will include pointers to relevant primary literature. For extra reading, the following book is recommended: Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach, Nicholas J Turner, Luke Humphreys