Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (SA)

Overview

STAFF

NAME CONTRIBUTION
Prof. John Holbrey, j.holbrey@qub.ac.uk Structural Analysis Methods for Soft inorganic Materials: (8 Lectures)
Prof. S. L. James, s.james@qub.ac.uk SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY (8 lectures)
Dr. Mark Muldoon, m.j.muldoon@qub.ac.uk Selective Oxidation Reactions (8 lectures)
Prof. Peter Nockemann, p.nockemann@qub.ac.uk Lanthanides and Actinides – Chemistry & Applications (8 lectures)

Module Structure:
• Supramolecular Chemistry: Prof. Stuart James
• Lanthanides and Actinides – Chemistry & Applications: Prof. Peter Nockemann
• Structural Analysis Methods for Soft inorganic Materials: Prof. John Holbrey
• Selective Oxidation Reactions: Dr. Mark Muldoon

SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY (8 lectures):
• Introduction: Historical background, including the development of covalent synthesis. Cram, Pedersen, Lehn – chemistry beyond the molecule, molecular recognition. The biological analogy and inspiration. Definitions: supramolecular, supermolecule, self-assembly. The various types of intermolecular interactions: hydrogen-bonds, van der Waals forces, coordination bonds (can be thought of as intermolecular in some sense), aromatic interactions. Interaction strengths, distances, directionalities. Hydrophobic effect.
• Self-assembly: A method to make large structures in a single step. Importance of thermodynamic control (equilibria) to give a single product quantitatively. Contrast with standard non-quantitative covalent synthesis of kinetic products. Examples of reversible interactions, van der Waals, hydrogen bonds, aromatic interactions and coordination bonds. Very few examples of reversible C-C bond formation.
• Coordination self-assembly: Large discrete structures: squares, hexagons, cubes, adamantoid (tetrahedra), octahedra. Importance of ligand exchange rates – labile metals with low crystal field stabilisation energy. Relation of metal geometry/symmetry and ligand geometry/symmetry to final product. Polymers: diamandoid topology, interpenetration, and porosity.
• Hydrogen-bond based self assembly: Donors, acceptors, ADA-DAD combinations, melamine-polymers. Association in solution. Single, double, triple H-bonding and solvent effects. Supramolecular catalysts. Host-guest chemistry: Calixarenes, cyclodextrins (Febreze). Purification of C60 (Atwood). Cooperative guest binding, Shinkai face-to-face porphyrins, the wheel-and axle design.

Lanthanides and Actinides – Chemistry & Applications (8 lectures):
• Coordination complexes of lanthanide and actinide ions (f-block elements)
• Separation and purification of lanthanides and actinides
• Electronic spectra and luminescence of lanthanides and actinides
• Applications of lanthanide luminescence (OLEDs, medicine, sensors)
• Magnetism of lanthanides and actinides & applications
• Organometallic lanthanide compounds and applications in organic synthesis

Structural Analysis Methods for Soft inorganic Materials: (8 Lectures):
• Determining the structure of molecules is a fundamental skill. The course is designed to enable students to interpret experimental data and understand the techniques used in modern materials chemistry to determine structure in soft (non-crystalline) materials. Emphasis will be placed on complementary and comparative understanding to enable decisions to be made about the most appropriate techniques to be applied to particular structural problems and how experimental data is transformed into structural information.
• Techniques to be covered will include nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, rotational and vibrational spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, and X-ray and neutron diffraction.
• The course will be illustrated using examples from the current scientific literature and references will be given throughout the course.

Selective Oxidation Reactions (8 lectures):
• Oxidation chemistry is fundamentally important in the synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The area of oxidation chemistry is wide and varied; therefore the course will focus on just some aspects of the field. Topics will include:
• The properties of dioxygen
• Singlet oxygen and reactions thereof
• Transition metal catalysis for selective oxidation reactions
• Current scientific literature and references will be given throughout the course.

• Feedback and revision seminars: Feedback on coursework will be organised by individual lecturers (either written or in person). Revision seminars will be arranged for the 2nd semester.

Learning Objectives

• Upon completion of the course, the students will have explored a series of topics of current international interest in inorganic chemistry, using the primary literature. They will have been exposed to the relationship between research and application of chemistry, and learn important scientific techniques used to investigate inorganic chemistry problems.

Skills

Skills Associated With Module:
• Application of fundamental chemistry principles to the progression of advanced areas of chemistry research, critical thinking and communication skills.

Assessment

Exam session 1st Semester
Assessment Profile:
Element type Element weight (%)
Examination (3hrs) 100

Course Requirements:
• Examination must be passed at 40 %.