University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 10

ECTS credits : 5

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

Aspects of the organic chemistry of the most important reactive intermediates viz.: carbo-cations, carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, nitrenes and arynes will be covered. Means of generating each type of reactive intermediate will be introduced. The key reactions of each intermediate will be reviewed and their characteristic reactions highlighted. An understanding of the use of each species in organic synthesis and of their significance in mechanistic analysis will be developed.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): 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 )

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

Guided independent study hours: 80

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 100%


Re-assessment: Oral Re-assessment = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor R A Aitken
Module teaching staff: Dr I A Smellie, Prof R A Aitken
Module coordinator email raa@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Recognise the main types of reactive intermediates in organic chemistry and provide methods for their detection
• Suggest suitable ways to generate each major type of reactive intermediate
• Predict the main modes of reaction likely for a given reactive intermediate
• Identify the role of reactive intermediates in selected organic reaction mechanisms
• Give examples of the application of reactive intermediates in organic synthesis