Chemical Reactions

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The mechanisms of chemical reactions used to make organic molecules
• The properties of transition metal complexes and their use for catalysis of chemical reactions.
• How the structures of molecules influence the success or failure of reactions.
• How the choice of reactions and conditions impact the cost and sustainability of synthetic processes for the production of organic molecules.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Interpret data from a range of physical techniques to characterise chemical compounds
• Carry out laboratory scale chemical reactions using batch and flow methods.
• Evaluate the risks associated with an experiment and understand how to mitigate against those risks

Lecture content:

Use of curly arrows to represent reaction mechanisms;

Oxidation states in both inorganic and organic contexts: Nucleophiles, electrophiles, Lewis acids, Lewis bases;

Nucleophilic addition / displacement cf ligand complexation / ligand exchange;

Structural factors affecting the stability of carbanions and carbenium ions;

Organic Mechanisms including: Nucleophilic addition to carbonyl groups including addition/elimination; Nucleophilic substitution at saturated carbon - SN1 and SN2 reaction mechanisms and examples of use in synthesis;; Eliminations -E1 and E2 mechanisms. Stereochemistry and regioselectivity; Electrophilic addition to alkenes; Electrophilic aromatic substitution including activating / deactivating groups and directing effect; Enolate alkylation and condensation with carbonyl compounds; Radicals and radical polymerisation

Transition Metal Chemistry including: Properties of the d-block elements and ligands; Ligand classifications and bonding interactions; Complex stability and the chelate effect; Basic transition metal reactivity – ligand exchange, oxidative addition, reductive elimination, beta-hydride elimination, insertion; Transition metal catalysis - Homogenous and heterogenous.

Consideration of how the choice of reactions and conditions impact the cost and sustainability of synthetic processes for the production of organic molecules, particularly the importance of catalysis.

Practical exercises to illustrate small scale chemical reactions, their conduct, and the analysis of the outcomes.

Lectures, problem-solving Seminars with group working and tutor support

Practical chemistry: Prelaboratory e-learning; pre-lab skills lectures/ Seminars; practical sessions, supporting demonstrations, group and one-to-one tuition.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Practical exercise

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: orally in the laboratory and online for e-learning.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.