General provisions

Correspond to the earlier course 3FK023 Drug Synthesis. 1.5 credits (hp) correspond to 1 credit point (p) according to earlier study regulation.

Entry requirements

Attendance of all earlier courses within the pharmacy programme and of which 60 credits/40 credit points of term 1-3 should be passed. For single subject course 45 credits/30 credit points in pharmaceutical chemistry or equivalent is required.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the students should be able to:

- apply the safety directions that are essential in organic-chemistry laboratory work, keep adequate records of their laboratory work, and make correct risk analyses.

- plan and carry out drug syntheses guided by the organic-chemical literature.

- describe electron distribution/bondings in organic molecules by means of theoretical models built on inductive effects and resonance effects or molecular orbital models.

- predict the usability of molecules as starting material in organic synthesis.

- predict the three-dimensional structure of organic molecules and explain their stereochemical properties.

- assess the proteolytic properties of organic molecules and compare their acid/base strength guided by inductive effects and resonance effects.

- define the concepts nucleophilicity and electrophilicity and account for the reaction mechanisms at nucleophilic substitution and of addition and elimination reactions.

- account for the reactions of the carbonyl group and the corresponding reaction mechanisms.

- explain the mechanism for carbon-skeleton rearrangements in relation to carbocation reactions.

- carry out retrosynthetic analysis of target molecules.

- interpret spectra (IR, MS and NMR) of organic molecules.

Content

The course focuses on organic synthesis strategy and synthesis methodology, mainly within the pharmaceutical field and of organic-chemical reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, spectroscopic methods are dealt with, both in theory and practice. The organic-chemical literature is highlighted and relevant databases are studied.

The laboratory part comprises organic synthesis of pharmaceutical substances and drug-alike compounds and identification of organic compounds by means of different spectroscopic methods. Laboratory exercises are presented both orally and in writing.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, group exercises, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory sessions. Emphasis is put on stimulating the students to independently search information and solve problems. Compulsory parts of the course:

Course introduction and all parts in connection with laboratory sessions.

Assessment

Examination is given at the end of the course. A chance to finalise a failed laboratory course can be given only at the next course occasion and only in case of a vacancy. To pass in the whole course a passed laboratory course (examination code) and a passed examination (examination code) are required. Each student has the right to in all six examinations i.e. one examination and five re-examinations.