Entry requirements

120 credits in Science containing 60 credits Chemistry including 15 credits in Organic Chemistry or equivalent.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course, the participant should have the ability to:

• devise synthesis and transformation for the most common functional groups
• account for and apply stereochemical terms such as chirality, stereoisomerism, and stereoselectivity
• identify and analyse possible synthetic routes towards a specific target molecule resembling a medicinal compound by use of retrosynthesis
• apply organometallic reactions in organic synthesis
• plan and dimension equipment for various types of laboratory experiments
• document laboratory work by laboratory reports written in English including an experimental part meeting the requirements for publishing in international scientific journals

Content

Organic chemical reactions of importance in synthesis and their mechanisms. Carrying through short reaction sequences. Working with the organic-chemical literature. Organometallic chemistry and its application to asymmetric catalysis. Chiral materials and reagents. Chiral auxiliaries and enzymatic catalysis. Determination of optical purity by polarimetry, chromatographic methods, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The laboratory exercises consist of syntheses aimed at the preparation of medicinal compounds or intermediates in their industrial synthesis. Training in communication is integrated into the course.

The student will train in particular:

- To present and discuss the result of a one-step synthesis (theory, laboratory techniques and equipment, purity check, yield) for a small audience

- To present and discuss, orally and in writing the result of a multistep synthesis (literature search, proposed synthetic route, synthesis, theory, laboratory techniques and equipment, purity check, yields)

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, laboratory work and possibly excursions. Some lectures may be given by guest lecturers from the medicinal industry. Exercises in oral and written presentation during laboratory seminars, where the student presents her/his results for an audience. Laboratory work and related oral presentation and exercises are mandatory.

Assessment

A written examination is arranged at the end of the course (8 credits). The laboratory work must also be passed. To pass the course, both examination and the laboratory exercises including written and oral presentations are valued as 7 credits. The final grade is a weighted composite of examination and laboratory work.