Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
PA10001 Chemistry of functional groups |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: To familiarise the student with:
a) the fundamental principles of atomic structure, molecular and intermolecular bonding and functional group recognition, b) the principles of reaction mechanisms in organic and biochemical systems; to illustrate the importance of 3-d structure in medicinal and biological chemistry. Learning Outcomes: At the end of the unit the student should be able to describe the factors that affect the 3-dimensional shape of molecules and assign stereochemical descriptions, present suitable reaction mechanisms for the interconversion of common functional groups and outline how these groups mediate acidity, basicity and weak bonding interactions. Skills: Study skills (T/F); Oral communication (T/F); Working with others (T/F); Problem solving (T/F). Content: The topics in this unit include atomic structure and hybridisation with its implications for molecular geometry. Intramolecular covalent bonding. Intermolecular weak bonding; origins and relevance to ligand/receptor and substrate/enzyme binding. Structural factors that affect reactivity. Functional groups and their interconversion at a mechanistic level. Stereochemistry in organic and biological molecules. Central role of the carbonyl group in chemistry and biochemistry. The nature of aromaticity and the occurrence and role of aromatic nuclei in drug molecules. |