Department of Chemistry, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 3 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take CH20149 or take CH20150 and in taking this unit you cannot take CH30068 |
| Description:
| Aims & Learning Objectives: To revise some basic concepts in physical organic chemistry and develop a number of ideas used to correlate reactivity and mechanism in a range of organic reactions. After studying the Unit, students should be able to: * Describe some experimental tools for investigating reaction mechanisms and the use of some theoretical models for their correlations and interpretation. * Suggest solutions for complex problems involving combinations of numerical and mechanistic information from a variety of sources. * Propose appropriate experimental approaches for determination of organic reaction mechanisms. Content: Energy changes in equilibria and reactivity. Transition states and saddle points. Activation parameters. Analysis of reaction coordinates. Principle of Least Nuclear Motion. Hammond Postulate. More O'Ferrall - Jencks diagrams. Rate - equilibrium correlations. Hammett equation as an example of a linear free-energy relationship. Significance of s and r for reactivity and mechanism. Complex Hammett plots: change in mechanism vs. change in rate-determining step. Equilibrium and kinetic isotope effects. Primary and secondary effects and their significance. Heavy-atom effects. Solvent isotope effects. |
| Programme availability: |
CH40068 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Chemistry
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