CH3CC1: Chemistry Core 1 (Inorganic and Organic)

Module code: CH3CC1

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Frantisek Hartl, email: f.hartl@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Jessica Gusthart, email: j.s.gusthart@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE CH2OR1 AND ( TAKE CH2IN1 OR TAKE CH2PRAX ) (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The course aims to relate advanced topics in organic, coordination and organometallic chemistry to subject areas covered in previous modules and provide a foundation of knowledge to enable a better understanding of the primary chemical literature.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the use of a variety of metal-based reagents in organic synthesis.
2. Construct relatively complex organic molecules revealing synthetic strategies for target synthesis.
3. Describe the chemistry of heteroaromatic compounds and apply its understanding for the synthesis of more complex molecules.
4. Explain and rationalize the synthesis, structure, bonding properties and reactivity of main group organometallics and organo-transition metal complexes, as well as some of the key aspects of lanthanoid and actinoid chemistry.

Module content

Organometallic chemistry (12 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 revision workshop): A proper insight into the rich field of transition metal complexes with diverse organic (C-coordinated) ligands will be obtained by learning their nomenclature, coordination modes, geometries, bonding properties and fundamental reaction types. Topics covered include: Classification of complexes by ligand type; Delocalized bonding and variation of metal oxidation state; Electron counting. Syntheses (including application of main group organometallics), structures and reactivity; Alkyl and aryl complexes; Carbene and carbyne complexes; Alkene, alkyne and polyene complexes; Allyl and other enyl complexes; Complexes based on cyclic π-systems.

Chemistry of f-block elements (3 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 revision workshop): Key properties of f-block elements and their compounds, and comparison with transition-metal chemistry; Lanthanide elements – coordination numbers, oxidation states, ligand preferences; Comparison of lanthanides with the actinide elements.

Organopalladium chemistry (4 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 revision Workshop): Principles and special features of reactions catalysed by transition metal complexes. The course will focus on cyclisation reactions and the Suzuki, Heck and Stille reactions.

Heterocyclic chemistry (5 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 revision workshop): Synthesis and reactions of pyrroles, furans, thiophenes, indoles, pyridines, quinolines and isoquinolines.

Retrosynthetic analysis in organic synthesis (6 lectures + 1 workshop + 1 revision workshop): Strategies involved in the construction of complex natural products. The central role of the carbonyl group in retrosynthetic analysis will be reviewed. The synthesis of a range of structurally complex molecules will be described.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course content is delivered as a series of lectures with workshops to provide formative practice and feedback. 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative workshops will be held to prepare students for the assessed summative online Blackboard tests and end exams.

Reassessment

Additional costs