ANU - STUDYAT - Medicinal Chemistry

Offered By:

Research School of Chemistry

Academic Career:

Undergraduate

Course Subject:

Chemistry

Offered in:

First Semester, 2010

Unit Value:

3 units

Course Description:

Organic synthesis is integral to the process of drug development in the pharmaceutical industry. This course is designed to develop student understanding of key concepts of organic chemistry relevant to medicinal chemistry. Topics covered include, chemical reactivity, specificity and selectivity, how to plan and execute a synthesis, oxidation and reduction methods, organometallic reagents, olefin metathesis, radical and pericyclic reactions. Examples will highlight the application of synthetic chemistry to the assembly of complex molecules with biological activity of therapeutic interest.

Learning Outcomes:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. recognise key chemical transformations used in the synthesis of biologically active molecules including oxidation and reduction, organometallic reactions, olefin metathesis, radical and pericyclic reactions
2. understand fundamental concepts associated with chemical transformations including reactivity, specificity and selectivity
3. work individually and with peers to evaluate, understand and describe real-world examples of the organic chemical synthesis of biologically active compounds and natural products
4. design a sequence of known and reliabe chemical transformations for the synthesis of organic compounds

Indicative Assessment:

Assessment will be based on:

Two hour exam, including a component of literature-based review of synthetic chemistry (80%; LO 1, 2, 3, 4)
Group assignment involving the discussion and evaluation of a recent literature synthesis of a biologically active natural product (20%; LO 1, 2, 3)

Workload:

Approximately 24 h lectures and 6 assignment tutorials, with students expected to devote equivalent out-of-class time on the assignment and for private study

Areas of Interest:

Chemistry

Requisite Statement:

CHEM2202 and CHEM2203

Incompatibility:

CHEM3101

Science Group:

C

Academic Contact:

Dr Mal McLeod

Medicinal Chemistry CHEM3011 - Details