CHM2627

Organic and biocoordination chemistry

Dr Tony Patti

8 points - Second Semester - 4 hours lectures and 4 hours practical work per week for on-campus students - Distance education students complete practical work at a 5-day residential school - Gippsland/Distance - Prerequisites: CHM1022 - Prohibitions: GAS2251, GAS2252, CHM2011, CHM2022

Objectives On satisfactory completion of this subject, students will be able to: appreciate the importance of an understanding of the chemistry of carbon compounds including classes containing the carbonyl group, aromatic compounds, nitrogen-containing organic compounds including amines, azo and diazo-related compounds, amino acids, proteins, RNA and DNA, distinguish and describe the chemical features and intermediates which determine fundamental organic reaction mechanisms and coordination complex formation including stereochemical principles, describe general strategies employed in organic synthesis, appreciate the relevance of these classes of compounds in biological systems, categorise and understand the structure, properties and reactivity of some simple heterocyclic compounds and their importance in medicinal chemistry and biological systems, appreciate the the relationships between organic chemistry and transition metal chemistry through a study of coordination chemistry with particular emphasis on biologically important coordination complexes, describe the nature and properties of coordination complexes, understand the chemistry and function of selected metallobiomolecules and synthetic compounds, with particular reference to biological function and therapeutic use and perform selected chemical laboratory procedures safely and skillfully at an advanced level.

Synopsis This second-year subject focuses on both organic and coordination chemistry. Students will study mechanistic aspects of organic reactions and the types of reaction intermediates involved in organic reactions including reactions involving free radicals, nucleophilic substitutions and eliminations. Several important compound classes will be discussed including carbonyl group containing compounds, amines, other nitrogen containing compounds including amino acids and proteins, a brief introduction to heterocyclic molecules including consideration of DNA and RNA and important reactions of aromatic compounds with particular emphasis on electrophilic reactions and their mechanisms. The subject will also introduce students to a general understanding of the principles of coordination chemistry, highlighted with examples taken from biological systems. The nature of coordination compounds, ligand classification, formation and stability, stereochemistry and properties of metal complexes will be discussed. Electronic structure, properties, crystal and ligand field theories will be related to magnetic properties and UV-Visible spectra.

Assessment Written examinations: 60% - Computer tests and assignment/problem-solving tasks: 10% - Practical work: 30% - A pass in both the theory and laboratory components of the assessment is mandatory.

Prescribed texts

Bruce P Organic chemistry 2nd edn, Prentice-Hall, 1998
Fenton F E Biocoordination chemistry OUP, 1995
Shriver D F, Atkins P W and Langford C H Inorganic chemistry 2nd edn, OUP, 1994

Recommended texts

Cotton F A and Wilkinson G Advanced inorganic chemistry, 5th edn, Wiley, 1988
McMurry J Organic chemistry 4th edn, Brooks-Cole, 1996

Back to the 1999 Science Handbook