98612 - MODERNE STRATEGIE SINTETICHE PER UNA CHIMICA ORGANICA SOSTENIBILE M

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will have an advanced understanding of the modern strategies available to chemists for synthesising relevant small molecules in a sustainable way, will be able to confidently propose the best synthetic approach for the preparation of a target molecule and novel uses of catalysis for both methodological and synthetic pursuits, and will understand the reliance on these modern strategies in industrial and fine chemical endeavours. In more detail, the course provides a survey of the modern synthetic approaches available for the sustainable preparation of relevant molecules, including transition-metal catalysis, organocatalysis, enzymatic catalysis, and photoredox catalysis. A special emphasis is placed on radical-based processes triggered by visible light (synthetic photochemistry) and electricity (electrochemistry), and their large-scale implementation through the use of flow technologies. The course will then survey fundamental transformations mediated by these modern approaches and will examine their applications to the construction of complex organic molecules and in industrial syntheses of commodity chemicals.

Course contents

-Background knowledge:

Knowledge of organic chemistry, reactivity, stereochemistry, and reaction mechanisms is required. In more detail:

- Principles of catalysis and stereochemistry.

- Selectivity in its different aspects (chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity).

- Basic principles of synthesis planning and understanding of reaction mechanisms

Contents:

The course identifies and discusses the skills and expertise the chemist of the future will need. The course provides a survey of the modern synthetic approaches available for the sustainable preparation of relevant molecules, including transition-metal catalysis, organocatalysis, enzymatic catalysis, and photoredox catalysis. A special emphasis is placed on radical-based processes triggered by visible light (synthetic photochemistry) and electricity (electrochemistry), and their large-scale implementation through the use of flow technologies.

The main subjects treated in the course will be:

- What makes a chemical process sustainable – the principles of green chemistry

- Survey of the modern synthetic approaches available for the sustainable preparation of relevant molecules. The crucial role of catalysis, including transition-metal catalysis, organocatalysis, enzymatic catalysis, and photoredox catalysis.

- Survey of fundamental transformations mediated by these modern catalytic approaches and their applications to the construction of complex organic molecules and in industrial syntheses of commodity chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Analysis of case studies from literature, mainly focusing on LSF (late-stage functionalization) of bio-relevant molecules.

- Basic principles of machine learning and applications for predictive chemistry

- Basic principles of HTE (High-Throughput Experimentation), a powerful approach to rapidly explore and optimize reaction conditions and parameters on a large scale

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures handouts in English and literature examples, available via the Virtuale web platform and through the library service: https://virtuale.unibo.it

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures and exercises on the blackboard

Assessment methods

Oral exam based on questions and exercises related to the topics covered in the lessons. The student is expected to be able to answer specific questions which may arise during the discussion, covering all concepts discussed during lessons.

The acquirement of the contents of the course will be assessed during a single oral exam, resulting in an overall mark given in 30/30.

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures with possible video projection aid. Use of interactive methods (e.g. Wooclap) and discussion of relevant scientific papers from the literature. 

Students with specific learning disabilities or disabilities can contact the Student Services for Disabilities and DSA of the University of Bologna (http://www.studentidisabili.unibo.it/) and the contact person of the Department (giorgio.bencivenni2@unibo.it) or the teacher of the course to agree on the most suitable ways to consult the teaching material and access the classrooms for the frontal lesson

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Melchiorre