Entry requirements

120 credits with 60 credits in chemistry including 15 credits in organic chemistry

Learning outcomes

After completion of the full course the student should be able to:

• predicit and explain the structures and stereochemistry of transition metal complexes.
• describe and explain the bonding in d-metal complexes and the 18 electron rule.
• describe various metal-ligand interactions in terms of hapticity, denticity, sigma- and pi-bonding .
• apply knowledge of fundamental organometallic reactions to construct catalytic cycles.
• account for general catalysis principles and explain the meaning of various terminology associated with catalytic efficiency.
• predict and discuss the selectivity of some commonly used transition metal catalysed processes in organometallic chemistry.

Content

The theory of structure, bonding and reactivity of transition metal compounds . This includes different types of ligands and their bonding modes, ligand substitutions and reactivity, and their roles in fundamental organometallic reactions important for catalysis (such as oxidative addition, reductive elimination, insertions and beta-hydride elimination). . The nature of catalysis including basic principles, how its efficiency is measured (e.g. using TON and TOF), the advantages and disadvantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis and how to test for which is operating in a particular reaction. Notable catalytic reactions, such as various forms of coupling reactions and hydrogenation.

Instruction

Lectures, demonstrations and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course, 4 credit. The laboratory course corresponds to 1 credit. The final grade is a weighted average of the grades from the exam and laboratory course.