This course will provide students with a well-rounded, integrated background in chemistry at the second year level covering key concepts in the areas of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry with a particular emphasis on their relevance to biological processes. The course is largely divided into two components: organic and coordination chemistry. The organic chemistry component will focus on an in-depth analysis of several types of organic reactions from a mechanistic and stereochemical outcome viewpoint with particular reference to natural products and the synthesis of compounds of biological and commercial importance. The primary focus of the coordination chemistry component will be on the stability, bonding, properties and reactivity of coordination compounds and their importance in biological systems. Laboratory: Development of key laboratory techniques in synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry; their applications in separation, synthesis, and analysis of organic and coordination compounds.

Honours pathway option (HPO):

Entry to this option is subject to the approval of the course convener.  Students who take this option will undertake 6-8 lectures at a more advanced level in place of 6-8 hours of tutorials/lab.  It is expected that all students in the PhB (Hons) or direct entry Honours degree programs enrolled in this course will complete the HPO.

Proposed Assessment Honours Pathway Option: The standard course will count 90% towards the final grade and the HPO 10%.

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

1. Assign configurations to relevant stereochemical elements in molecular structures and predict stereochemical outcomes in organic reactions.
2. Provide mechanistic rationalisations for both substitution and elimination reactions in organic chemistry.
3. Explain and rationalise the structures, stabilities and properties of coordination compounds using crystal/ligand field theory.
4. Provide mechanistic rationalisations for substitution reactions and electron transfer processes in transition metal complexes.
5. Write concise scientific reports, critically analyse scientific data and elucidate structures of compounds using spectral analyses.

Assessment will be based on:

• Laboratory work (35%; LO 1-5)
• Exam (65%; LO 1-4)

A maximum of 32 hours of lectures/tutorials and 32 hours of laboratory classes.

CHEM1101 and CHEM1201

Schriver and Atkins' Inorganic Chemistry by Atkins, Overton, Rourke, Weller and Armstrong

Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers