Organic synthesis: strategy and techniques
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In this one-week residential school course, you’ll undertake an intensive laboratory-based project, learning experimental methods and principles involved in the multi-step synthesis of organic compounds. You’ll also gain experience of modern synthetic and spectroscopic techniques used in their preparation and characterisation. There’ll be some preparatory work before the school and an assignment afterwards. This course complements Drug design and synthesis (S346) and is particularly suitable for study in the same year. The residential school is likely to be held at York University with a choice of dates in July or August – register early if you have a preference, as we can’t always offer your first choice.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SXR344 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| Residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
Much of the school will be devoted to undertaking a laboratory-based project aimed at planning and carrying out the synthesis of an insect pheromone. In the first part of the week, you will work as part of a team exploring the chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity of carbon–carbon double-bond formation using the Wittig and Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reactions. In the second part of the week, you will undertake the synthesis of one of a group of pheromones all of which contain at least one carbon–carbon double bond. You will be supplied with the detailed experimental procedures to be followed for most of the synthetic route, but will need to use the information obtained from the group investigation earlier in the week for the step that involves formation of the double bond. In the course of this work you will, to varying degrees, gain experience of handling air- and water-sensitive chemicals; use flash chromatography to purify reaction mixtures and gas chromatography to analyse reaction products; and record and interpret infrared and proton n.m.r. spectra.
In order to get the most from the experimental work, it is necessary to understand the strategy of organic synthesis and infrared and proton n.m.r. spectroscopy. On the course CD you will be provided with the necessary background theory to study before the residential school. In addition, it is important that you have some familiarity with the experimental techniques used. Material describing these will also be provided along with information relating to risk assessment and the safety regulations that must be adhered to when working in a laboratory. During the school there will also be a programme of tutorials.
The school will be held at a UK university during July and/or August and you will be asked to choose your week when you register for the course. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Entry
The course complements the 20-credit Level 3 course Drug design and synthesis (S346), and all students on that course are strongly encouraged to take SXR344. It is suitable for anyone with previous experience of a chemistry laboratory who is studying molecular sciences at third-year degree level, either with The Open University or elsewhere, who would like to develop their knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry and relevant laboratory techniques. It builds on techniques and skills taught in our Level 1 residential school course Practising science (SXR103) and our Level 2 residential school course Exploring the molecular world (SXR205) (now discontinued).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
If you have severely impaired mobility, manual dexterity or sight, you may find the laboratory work at the residential school challenging. The laboratory project will involve presentation of visual stimuli and a spoken element.
The laboratories and tutorial rooms are accessible to wheelchair users. Support services can be offered during the residential week, and every effort will be made to accommodate you. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the residential school site and the facilities available to help with the academic programme. The study materials are presented on a CD and so you will spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer. Other materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publications Meeting Your Needs and Meeting your residential school needs. If you have concerns about taking this course or the support that you would need, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or the Disability Resources Team for advice.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
You will need
For the residential school, a laboratory coat.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have tuition from specialist tutors for the residential week. Support before and after the residential-school week will be provided via the website and online forum.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
Assessment will be in the form of a computer-marked assignment (CMA) before the school, assessment during the residential week and an end-of-module assessment (EMA) to be submitted after the school. To pass the course you must pass this assessment and participate satisfactorily in all the activities at the residential school.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2012 when it will be available for the last time.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SXR344 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| Residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
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