Medicinal Chemistry with Pharmacology MChem

Within Chemistry, you will take modules that cover the fundamentals of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry, plus necessary key skills, totalling 90 credits. Four Chemistry modules combine theoretical and practical aspects and one Chemistry module develops Quantitative and General Key Skills. You will spend between three and six hours per week in the Chemistry laboratory and so will receive a comprehensive training in practical aspects of the subject. Instead of optional modules you will be required to take 30 credits of compulsory modules from Biomedical/Biological Sciences covering Anatomy, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology and Physiology.

• Introductory Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM111) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 50:50 Aims

  The aim of this module is to give students an understanding of the underlying principles of the chemistry of the main group elements and to give them an appreciation of the importance of this chemistry in everyday life.

  Learning Outcomes

  By the end of this module a student will have an understanding of:

  • The periodic table as an underlying framework for understanding the chemistry of the main group elements
  • The crystal structures of metals and simple ionic solids
  • Lewis acid-Lewis base interactions
  • Systematic chemistry of halides and hydrides of the main group elements
  • stematic chemistry of halides and hydrides of the main group elements
  • The structures and reactivities of organometallic compounds of the main group elements
  • The basic techniques required for the preparation and analysis of simple inorganic compounds

  A student will also have developed the following skills:

  • Planning and time-management associated with practical work
  • Report writing
• Introductory Organic Chemistry (CHEM130) Level 1 Credit level 30 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims

  The aim of this module is to ensure that students are aware of fundamental principles of organic chemistry, including nomenclature, structure and bonding, and the basic principles of static and dynamic stereochemistry. The major reactions associated with the common functional groups will be covered with emphasis on reaction mechanisms. In addition, this module will provide an introduction to the basic techniques associated with practical synthetic chemistry.

  Learning Outcomes

  By the end of this module students will know:

  • Structures and shapes of major classes of organic compounds
  • Principles of bonding in major classes of organic compounds
  • Basic principles of stereochemistry
  • Important reactions of a range of functional groups
  • An understanding of the major classes of reaction mechanisms
  • The basic techniques of synthetic chemistry (isolation, purification, identification, and design and work-up of reactions) and will have experience of characterisation using spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods.
• Foundations of Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM141) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 80:20 Aims The aim of this module is to provide students with and understanding of : 1. The key components of cells that act as the building blocks for the key macromolecular structures that are essential in medicinal chemistry. 2. How macromolecules interact with each other to allow for natural cellular processes (such as gene expression) that can be exploited by medicinal chemists 3. The key drug targets in medicinal chemistry Learning Outcomes

  ​Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of t he chemical components of cells.

  ​ Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of  the structure, chemical bonding and interactions of a range of cellular macromolecules that allow natural cellular processes to occur

  ​​Upon successful completion of this module, a student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key drug targets in medicinal chemistry, including enzymes, receptors and nucleic acids

• Introductory Physical Chemistry (CHEM152) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims

  The main aim of this module is to equip students with an understanding of basic kinetics and thermodynamics as they relate to chemical reactions.

  Learning Outcomes

  By the end of the module students should be familiar with, and be able to make appropriate use of:

  • Basic ideas of energy changes in chemical reactions
  • Ideas relating to the rates of chemical reactions
  • Basic laboratory skills and report writing, including data and error analysis
• Introductory Spectroscopy (CHEM170) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 70:30 Aims

   

  The aim of this module is to introduce modern spectroscopic methods in chemistry. Students will understand

  • the importance of quantum mechanics in understanding atomic structure
  • the interaction of light with matter
  • atomic and molecular spectroscopy
  • information obtained from different spectroscopic techniques
  • the interpretation of spectroscopic data
  • deduction of molecular structure from spectroscopic data

  Learning Outcomes

  ​ By the end of this module students should have an understanding of atomic structure and the fundamental principles behind rotational, vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and should be able to apply their knowledge to real spectroscopic problems, including the application of spectroscopic techniques to the elucidation of molecular structure.

• Key Skills for Chemists 1 (CHEM180) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  The aim of this module is:

  (i) to equip students with the basic quantitative transferable skills required for the first year of a Chemistry degree programme. (60% of module)

  (ii) to broaden a student''s perspective of chemistry whilst developing their general transferable skills with a focus on communication and employability. (40% of module)

  Learning Outcomes

  The overarching leaning outcome is for students to have the key skills that will equip them to perform well in the rest of their chemistry degree programme.

  The learning outcomes can be divided into two areas: Quantitative and General Key Skills.

  Quantitative key skills:

  By the end of this module a successful student should be able to handle:

  • Simple volumetric calculations as required for titrations in analytical chemistry
  • Basic algebraic manipulation and functions needed for kinetics, thermodynamics and quantum mechanics
  • Elementary geometry required for the understanding of molecular shapes and solid state chemistry
  • The representation of data via graphs, particularly straight line graphs, and the manipulation of data in spreadsheet programs for data analysis
  • The basic idea of a derivative and an integral for use in physical chemistry
  • The physical concepts of energy, momentum and angular momentum

  ​​General key skills:

  By the end of this module a sucessful student will have been exposed to:

  • The importance of chemistry in the development of our society
  • The future of chemistry
  • The representation of chemistry in the media

  In addition successful students will have developed their:

  • investigative, critical, writing and presentation skills.
  • employability skills.​

You will learn more advanced topics within all the main branches of Chemistry and continue to develop your Quantitative and Key Skills. Practical Chemistry skills will be developed through stand-alone modules and you will have the opportunity to spend between six and nine hours per week in the chemical laboratories. You will also take 22.5 credits of Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry modules that will involve both theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.

• Metals and Metalloids of The P and D-blocks (CHEM214) Level 2 Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 80:20 Aims

  Aims:

  This module is an introduction to the co-ordination and organometallic chemistry of 3d transition metals, and will encompass theory, physical methods and descriptive chemistry.

  The aims of the module are:

  • To outline how bonding theories (valence bond, crystal field, ligand field) have been developed by chemists to rationalise important properties of the d–block elements, many of which distinguish them from organic and main group compounds
  • To illustrate the chemistry of the transition elements by a detailed study of three groups, Ti/Zr/Hf, Fe/Ru/Os and Ni/Pd/Pt, including:
  • Discovery, isolation and technological importance of the elements and their compounds
  • A survey of the chemistry of the different oxidation states and a comparison of the 3d elements with their heavier 4d and 5d relatives
  • Brief comparisons/contrasts with neighbouring groups of elements.
  • To introduce the theory underlying the use of appropriate physical and spectroscopic techniques for characterising d–block complexes, and examples of their application.
  • To introduce the chemistry, and some applications, of complexes in low oxidation states, including:
  • CO as an examplar of a p-acceptor ligand
  • 3d Metal carbonyl complexes
  • Analogous ligands, e.g. NO, RNC
  • The 18-electron rule; what it is, and why it applies to these complexes.
  • To introduce the chemistry, and some applications, of p-block elements and compounds.         

   

  Learning Outcomes

  By the end of the module students should:

  • Show an understanding of the concepts, applications and limitations of the different bonding theories relevant to transition-metal complex chemistry, and be aware of their relative relevance in different chemical contexts.
  • Be able to identify key elements of the structures of transition-metal complexes, and apply their knowledge of spectroscopic and physical techniques to work out the correct structure for a complex, given relevant chemical and spectroscopic information.
  • Be able to describe the social, economic and technological importance of selected transition elements.
  • Understand and be able to describe the significance of the syntheses, characterisation and chemistry of 3d metal complexes encountered in the practical module, CHEM245.
  • Understand the origin of the18-electron rule, its application and the sort of complexes to which it applies.
• Organic Chemistry Ii (CHEM231) Level 2 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 80:20 Aims

  The aim of this module is to introduce important carbon-carbon bond forming reactions within a mechanistic and synthetic framework, together with exposure to a selection of stereochemical issues.

  Learning Outcomes

  Students should be able to solve problems featuring:

  Scope and mechanisms of basic reactions (nucleophilic and electrophilic substitutions, addition and elimination reactions)

  Basic carbonyl chemistry (alkylation, acylation, aldol, conjugate additions).

  Structure, reactivity and synthesis of simple heterocycles (including pyridines, pyrroles, furans)

  Functional group interconversions and stereochemistry.

• Preparative Chemistry: Synthesis and Characterisation (CHEM245)