BPS2021 · Synthetic chemistry 1: Structure and reactivity

Overview

The ability to make or modify small molecules and confirm the identity of synthetic products is fundamental to the drug discovery and development process. Synthetic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity introduces you to the theoretical principles and practical tools of chemical synthesis by examining the reactivity of several common functional groups both inside and outside of the lab. This approach is relevant not only to direct synthetic applications, but also to drug design, drug-target interactions, and drug formulation more generally. You will examine mechanisms involving alkenes and alkynes, benzene derivatives, alcohols, alkyl halides, and carbonyls, along with justifications for their occurrence. These core skills will enable you to propose single- and multi-step synthetic mechanisms to produce target molecules. Key analytical techniques used to elucidate organic compounds will also be explored, which will enable you to analyse and determine the structural identity of synthetic products.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Final assessment (40%) and in-semester assessment (60%)

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Analyse the chemical structure of pharmaceutical compounds using a functional group approach to determine their properties and reactivity
2. Formulate both single-step and multi-step reaction mechanisms using arrow-pushing formalisms, and rationalise these mechanisms using kinetic and thermodynamic principles
3. Describe the physical basis of selected spectroscopic techniques and explain their role in the identification of drug molecules
4. Systematically analyse and interpret spectroscopic data using common analytical techniques to identity small molecule products, and characterise distinct molecular properties
5. Demonstrate safe and effective chemical synthesis, product purification and characterisation techniques within a working laboratory environment, both individually and in team-based roles
6. Analyse, discuss, and evaluate experimental data via written scientific reports, using appropriate scientific language and ethical GenAI usage as expected of academic standards

Workload

• Twelve 1-hour online preparation modules (discovery) • Twenty-four 1-hour lectures (online modules) • One 2 hour Introductory Applied session • Six 2-hour workshops • Six 4-hour laboratories • Up to four hours of scheduled in-semester assessments

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.