BPS2021 Synthetic chemistry I: structure and reactivity
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
BPS2021 Synthetic chemistry I: structure and reactivity is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2023 in Semester 1 at Parkville. It needs BPS1021 and BPS1022 and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Semester 1
- Parkville
- Assessment
- Exam 52%
- and 3 other tasks
This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review BPS2021.
Requisites
Before BPS2021
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After BPS2021
1 unit list BPS2021 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
The ability to make or modify small molecules and to confirm their identity is fundamental to the drug discovery and development process. Synthetic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity introduces students to the theoretical principles and practical tools of chemical synthesis, including key analytical techniques (such as NMR and mass spectroscopy) used to structurally elucidate organic compounds. The unit takes a functional group approach to examine the structure of organic molecules and their potential to interact and react with other molecules, an approach that is highly relevant not only to synthetic applications, but also more generally to drug design, drug-target interactions and drug formulation.
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Parkville | On campus |
Assessment
- Workshop quizzesWorkshop15%
- Mid-semester testIn class test15%
- Laboratory-based activitiesOther18%
- Laboratory-based examIn class test12%
- End of semester asessmentExam40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Analyse the chemical structure of pharmaceutical compounds with regard to their properties (steric, electronic, acid-base) and their reactivity using a functional group approach.
- 2
Formulate basic reaction mechanisms using the arrow-pushing formalism.
- 3
Apply kinetic and thermodynamic principles to rationalise basic reaction pathways.
- 4
Safely and competently perform a basic chemical synthesis, including product purification and collection of analytical data to characterise the product.
- 5
Describe the physical basis of selected spectroscopic techniques (primarily mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance) and explain their role in the identification of drug molecules.
- 6
Systematically analyse, interpret and report spectroscopic data to characterise small molecule synthesis products.
- 7
Clearly and accurately discuss and evaluate experimental data in a written laboratory report format.
Workload and teaching
- Assessments1 hours
- Workshops12 hours
- Applied sessions12 hours
- Laboratories24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Twelve 1-hour online preparation modules (discovery)
- Twenty-four 1-hour lectures (online modules)
- Twelve 1-hour Q&A sessions
- Six 2-hour workshops
- Six 4-hour laboratories
- One hour of scheduled assessments
Problem solving workshops
Interactive lectures and workshops
Moodle discovery modules with 'check your learning' questions
Laboratory experiments
Learning resources
Required resources
Organic Chemistry by Vollhardt & Shore OR Organic Chemistry by Buice
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Peter Scammells
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Peter Scammells
Common questions
What can I take after BPS2021?
BPS2021 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including BPS3042.
When is BPS2021 offered?
In 2023, BPS2021 runs in Semester 1 at Parkville.
Does BPS2021 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 52% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.