6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
Structural Organic Chemistry lays a foundation of knowledge about the structure and reactivity of the key functional groups found in pharmaceutical compounds. These general topics are relevant to drug design, the synthesis of bioactive molecules, drug-target interactions and drug formulation.
Outcomes
At the end of this unit students will develop:
- A detailed knowledge of the structure of common functional groups contained in pharmaceuticals;
- A detailed knowledge of the properties of functional groups, with a particular focus on steric, electronic and acid/base properties relevant to drug discovery and formulation;
- An understanding of the reactivity of these functional groups;
- An understanding of basic reaction mechanisms, kinetics and thermodynamics;
- The practical ability to
- perform a basic chemical reaction
- purify the product(s)
- analyse and characterise the product(s).
Assessment
Mid semester exam 20%, end of semester exam 50% (total theory component 70%)
Practical reports 20%, practical exam 5% (total practical component 25%)
Tutorials/active learning 5% (total tutorial component 5%)
Workload requirements
Contact hours for on-campus students:
- Twenty four 1-hour lectures
- Six 1-hour tutorials
- Six 4-hour practicals
See also Unit timetable information