CH5611 Asymmetric Synthesis

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

10

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof A D Smith

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof A D Smith, Dr C P Johnston

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module discusses the methods available for the synthesis of chiral compounds. After a detailed introduction to the specialised terminology and analytical methods used, the main methods using chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents and chiral catalysts will be described. This will then be combined with a consideration of synthetic strategy and total syntheses of several complex chiral compounds will be discussed.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS 1 MODULE FROM {CH2601, CH2603} AND PASS AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {CH2501, CH2701} ) OR ( PASS 2 MODULES FROM {CH2501, CH2701} AND PASS CH1601 OR PASS CH1202 )

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 - 3 lectures per week over 9 - 10 weeks (within Weeks 1-11) and 2 - 3 tutorials in total.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

80

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Be aware of the relative importance of chiral auxiliaries, reagents and catalysts in modern synthesis, and be able to propose suitable uses for the examples studied.
  • Formulate stereochemical models that explain the observed diastereoselectivity or enantioselectivity of a range of asymmetric reactions.
  • Use the reactions taught, along with knowledge of other well-known organic reactions to suggest a catalytic asymmetric synthesis of some relatively simple chiral molecules.
  • Use the principles taught to consider unseen examples of asymmetric reactions, and be able to select the appropriate principles, and then apply them and hence rationalise the stereoselectivity of these reactions
  • Understand the key topics highlighted in the lectures and support material.