2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CHEM3226 Process chemistry and reactive intermediates in synthesis

10 Credits Class Size: 120

Module manager: Prof Bao Nguyen
Email: b.nguyen@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Level 2 in Chemistry or Level 2 in Joint Honours (Science) with Chemistry or equivalent.

Module replaces

CHEM3231

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module will provide students with an understanding of reactivity in organic chemistry, and how this relates to synthetic problems in the real world. The students will be taught the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry, such as reactive intermediates, the factors influencing their reactivity and areas where control of reactivity are important. The module will put these principles into context using real world examples in medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry, including the different challenges in chemical discovery and manufacturing. Examples of contents are: the nature of reactive intermediates, solvents, hazardous materials, and sustainability.

Objectives

The object of this course is to provide students with an understanding of reactivity in organic chemistry, and how this relates to synthetic problems in the real world. The students will be taught the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry, such as reactive intermediates, the factors influencing their reactivity and areas where control of reactivity are important. The module will put these principles into context using real world examples in medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry, including the different challenges in chemical discovery and manufacturing. Examples of contents are: the nature of reactive intermediates, solvents, hazardous materials, and sustainability.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Have a broad appreciation of the nature of reactive intermediates, and factors affecting their stability and reactivity.
2. Have an understanding of the importance of carbocations, carbenes, nitrenes and radicals in chemical processes and their applications.
3. Understand differences in reactions used in drug discovery and production of a chemicals on an industrial scale.
4. Understand the concepts of sustainability and green chemistry.
5. Understand the development of large scale reactions for manufacture and the experimental processes used to optimise chemical reactions for industrial application.

Syllabus

- Stability and reactivity of carbocations, carbanions, and free radicals;
- Stability and reactivity of carbenes and nitrenes;
- Application of radicals in chemistry and related disciplines;
- Solvent and solvent effects, biphasic systems and phase transfer catalysis;
- Key differences between laboratory and industrial scale reaction conditions;
- Process optimisation of synthetic reactions;
- Production of a marketable drug: process chemistry and scale up constraints.

Teaching Methods

Private study

70h including 15h online study - quizzes, making notes, additional reading and research

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

3 online quizzes and 1 formative assessment

Methods of Assessment

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 05/07/2024

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