Module manager: Prof Bao Nguyen
Email: b.nguyen@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Level 2 in Chemistry or Level 2 in Joint Honours (Science) with Chemistry or equivalent.
CHEM3231
This module is not approved as a discovery module
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Workshop | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Office Hour Discussions | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Lectures | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Independent online learning hours | 15 | ||
| Private study hours | 54 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 31 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
70h including 15h online study - quizzes, making notes, additional reading and research
3 online quizzes and 1 formative assessment
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Report | 3 page report on research paper | 15 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 15 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Open Book exam | 2.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 85 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 85 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 09/04/2025
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