CH3210 - Applications of Inorganic Chemistry

This subject extends the material delivered in CH2210 with a focus in two areas of modern inorganic chemistry: organometallic chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry. The organometallic chemistry component covers the bonding, reactions and industrial applications of organometallic compounds including their roles in homo- and heterogeneous catalysis (including the industrial preparation of polymers, and hydroformylation, isomerism, hydrogenation, acetic acid synthesis processes) and in synthetic organic transformations . Characterisation of organometallic compounds is described with particular emphasis on multinuclear NMR and infrared spectroscopies and how these can be applied to study bonding in such molecules. The section on bioinorganic chemistry covers the importance of transition metals in metallo-proteins and enzymes, the reasons behind the use of metals in these species, the possible applications of synthetic analogues of these metalloproteins and metalloenzymes and the use of transition metal complexes in medicine as either therapeutic or diagnostic agents (e.g. MRI or radionuclide contrast agents). Content includes aspects of the reaction kinetics, redox behaviour and Lewis acidity of transition metal ions. Methods of structural and electronic characterisation of metalloproteins and enzymes including X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy , infrared and Raman, EPR, Mossbauer, and synchrotron techniques such as EXAFS are described and applied.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate the relationship between reactivity, selectivity and structure in organometallic complexes;
• employ advanced synthetic methodology and purification techniques to produce and characterise typical inorganic and organometallic compounds;
• assess the role of metals in biological systems, and in the development and application of metal-based therapeutics and diagnostics;
• apply a variety of spectroscopic methods to the structural and electronic characterisation of organometallic and bioinorganic compounds and the application of metal compounds in medicine.

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (60%) - Individual
• Workshop - (10%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Practical assessment/practical skills demonstration - (30%) - Individual.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.