CHEM4481: ADVANCED RESEARCH CONCEPTS IN CHEMISTRY

• Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) AND two from [Inorganic Concepts and Applications (CHEM3097) OR Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM3117) OR Molecules and their Interactions (CHEM3137)].

• Core Chemistry 4 (CHEM4311).

• Bioactive Chemistry 4 (CHEM4211) OR Chemical Physics 4 (CHEM4411) OR Chemistry and Society (CHEM3061).

• To demonstrate contemporary research concepts in chemistry, chemical physics and chemistry at the interface with biology.

• D - Metals in Medicine
• E - Recent developments and applications of solid-state NMR spectroscopy
• F - Research concepts in heterogeneous catalysis
• M - Enantioselective Catalyisis
• N - Organofluorine Chemistry
• O - Introduction to Agrochemistry
• U - Medicinal Chemistry II - From hit to pill
• V - Cold and Ultracold Molecules
• W - Optical Microscopy and Imaging
• [*Each student will follow six lecture courses. The choice will depend on modules taken at level-3 and student choice.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• After attending the relevant lecture courses, students should be able to:
• D1 - Discuss the properties and reactions of metal complexes that make them suitable as therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases;
• E1 - Appreciate the role of solid-state NMR spectroscopy in the characterisation of solids and the information that can be extracted/obtained;
• E2 - Identify and explain the main interactions in solid-state NMR and their effect on NMR spectra;
• E5 - an introduction to dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) methods and applications, e.g., catalysis.
• F1 - Understand and appreciate current major research concepts in understanding how heterogeneous catalytic processes work (beyond Y2 surface science and Y3 catalysis courses);
• F2 - Appreciate the necessity for and methods available for understanding and measuring active sites and following catalytic processes in operando
• F3 - Understand the importance of both single crystal and nanostructured models for understanding heterogeneous catalytic mechanisms;
• F4 - Appreciate how fundamental scientific approaches are being used in real world applications through specific case studies of hot reactions relevant to current global challenges, e.g., solar energy harvesting or bio-refineries for chemicals production;
• M1 - understand the strategies available to obtain enantioenriched compounds
• M2 - discuss the thermodynamic and kinetic principles at the basis of enantioselective catalysis, particularly using metal complexes with chiral ligand or chiral counterions;
• N1 - Describe several methods for the introduction of fluorine atoms into organic systems;
• N2 - Discuss reactivity and mechanisms of fluoroalkenes, aromatics, heterocyclics and a mirror-image chemistry of related hydrocarbon systems;
• O1 - To Appreciate the societal importance of crop protection agents and other agrochemicals
• O2 - To Distinguish between intrinsic and biological effects of agrochemical inputs
• O3 - To Understand how an agrochemical can interact with its molecular target
• O4 - To be able to relate molecular structure to physicochemical parameters and downstream impact on compound efficacy
• O5 - To understand the steps of early stage agrochemical discovery - lead discovery and lead optimisation
• U1 - Understand the process of developing a successful "hit" from drug discovery into a final product;
• U2 - Understand the importance of solid-state forms and their characterisation for drug pharmacokinetics and patenting;
• V1 - Understand what is meant by the terms cold and ultracold and how the behaviour of molecules in these regimes of temperature differs from behaviour at higher temperatures;
• V2 - Describe the various experimental techniques employed to produce cold and ultracold molecules and know the current state of the art in experiment and theory;
• V3 - Appreciate the many applications of cold and ultracold molecules to contemporary problems in modern chemistry and physics;
• W1: understand the underlying physical principles behind optical microscopy and fundamental knowledge of key microscope components and their function and design progression;
• W2: Describe fluorescence microscopy and its application, including fluorescent dyes and their desired biocompatibility and physical properties; describe excitation sources and basic laser applications and important safety aspects;
• W3: Understand the confocal principle, including the achievable axial and lateral resolution with both single and multiphoton excitation and its application in life sciences;
• W4: Explain basic image acquisition and important cell culture techniques to compliment optical microscopy in life sciences, mounting techniques and application to real life applications.

Subject-specific Skills:

Key Skills:

• Facts and new concepts are introduced in the lecture courses.
• Students' knowledge and understanding is tested by examination.
• Undergraduates are aided in the learning process by workshops where they attempt sample problems.

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