Syllabus
Lecture 1: Introduction to Chemical Reactivity, Redox reactions
Overview of chemical reactivity principles, transition from chemical principles to chemical transformations, redox reactions (oxidations, reductions), electron transfer, reaction mechanisms, energy production, environmental impact
Lecture 2: Fundamentals of Organic Reaction Mechanisms
Basics of organic reaction mechanisms, types of reactions: substitution, addition, elimination, electron movement in reactions, curved arrows, induction effect, mesomeric effect, dipole moment, polarity, acids-base reactions
Lecture 3: Stereochemistry and Chirality in Organic Reactions
Understanding stereochemistry, E/Z isomerism, absolute configuration (Cahn-Ingold-Prelog system), chirality in biological systems, amino acids, influence on drug design and pharmacology (atropoisomers)
Lecture 4: Substitution and Elimination reactions
Preparation, reactions, organometallic compounds, nucleophilic substitution Sn1/Sn2, elimination E1/E2/E1cb, halogenoalkanes, alcohols, ethers, thiols, amines
Lecture 5: Electrophilic Aromatic Substitutions
Aromaticity, halogenation, nitration, sulfonation, Friedel-Crafts reactions, substitution effects, diazotization, Sandmeyer reactions, special case: Nucleophilic aromatic substitution
Lecture 6: Chemistry of Carbonyl Compounds
Reactivity of carbonyl group, reactions at α-position, carboxylic acids, functional derivatives of carboxylic acids, keto-enol tautomerism, aldolization, Claisen condensation, peptide bond,
Lecture 7: Catalysis
Theory of catalysis, types of catalysis: heterogeneous, homogeneous, enzymatic, catalytic mechanisms, industrial, environmental applications, nanocatalysts, biocatalysts research
Lecture 8: Industrially relevant chemical processes
Sources of chemicals, valorization of fossil resources, mineral resources and biomass, industrial chemistry principles, Haber-Bosch process, contact process, green chemistry, sustainability
Lecture 9: Biomedical Chemistry: Drug Design, Drug delivery, Bioconjugations
Chemical basis of drug action, principles of drug design and development, case studies of drug discovery
Lecture 10: Introduction to Material Chemistry
Basics of material chemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical principles in new material development, nanomaterials and their applications
Lecture 11: Supramolecular Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Principles of supramolecular chemistry, molecular recognition and self-assembly, applications in chemical biology and nanotechnology
Lecture 12: Biomaterials
Biomaterials: classification, properties, biocompatibility, bioactivity, tissue engineering, medical implants, drug delivery systems, ethical, regulatory aspects in biomaterials
Annotation
The course Chemical transformations provides an introduction to the general principles of chemical reactivity in the context of modern multidisciplinary science. After the general introduction, the students will get familiar with the basic concepts of inorganic, organic, organometallic, and polymer chemistry on the basis of general reactivity concepts rather than memorizing particular reactions. Finally, one lecture will be devoted to the chemical understanding of natural processes, providing an essential introduction to biochemistry and molecular biology.
Overall, the course will focus on overlaps within different areas of chemistry and between chemistry and other natural sciences, particularly physics and biological sciences.
The course is supplemented by a practical workshop.