Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

CHEM40322 Topics in Inorganic Chemistry 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 4 Alan Brisdon Unit coordinator Department of Chemistry 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 The module will be composed of four six-lecture topics:·        Fluorine/Noble Gas Chemistry (Dr A Brisdon, 6 lectures)·        Frustrated Lewis Pairs (Dr M Ingleson, 6 lectures)·        Molecular Nanomagnets. (Dr N. Chilton, 6 lectures)·        Functional Organometallics. (Dr J. Skelton, 6 lectures)Lectures will be given on a topic-based approach by staff with relevant research expertise in the appropriate areas. Primary research literature/data will also be presented and discussed. The module will be composed of four six-lecture topics:·        Fluorine/Noble Gas Chemistry (Dr A Brisdon, 6 lectures)·        Frustrated Lewis Pairs (Dr M Ingleson, 6 lectures)·        Molecular Nanomagnets. (Dr N. Chilton, 6 lectures)·        Functional Organometallics. (Dr J. Skelton, 6 lectures) Lectures will be given on a topic-based approach by staff with relevant research expertise in the appropriate areas. Primary research literature/data will also be presented and discussed. The course unit unit aims to:<ul> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;">  Provide students with an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of recent advances in selected inorganic topics.</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Provide an appreciation of research methods in inorganic chemistry.</li></ul> Students successfully completing this unit should have developed, the following overall and specific learning objectives:Overarching:<ul> <li> Extend ideas from core chemistry to advanced topics in the areas covered;</li> <li> Describe chemistry, synthesis, theory and methods to related applications or areas;</li> <li> Interpret structural, spectral and chemical data in the relevant areas;</li> <li> Deduce chemical information from given data;</li> <li> Predict properties, spectra etc for related and/or unseen compounds;</li> <li> Devise synthetic routes to target molecules.</li></ul> Fluorine and Noble gas Chemistry<ul> <li> Sumarise the chemical and physical properties of fluorine and typical fluorine-containing molecules.</li> <li> Describe the concept of super-acids, including the different types of super-acids, their relative strengths and their applications in weakly-coordinating anions.</li> <li> Describe the synthesis, structure and bonding of noble-gas compounds.</li> <li> Explain how noble-gas element bonds may be prepared and characterised.</li> <li> Explain methods used to stabilse very unstable/reactive molecules.</li> <li> Rationalise the halogen bond concept and the structural implications that arise.</li> <li> Rationalise the influence fluorine has when present in transition-metal complexes and their ligands.</li></ul>Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry<ul> <li> Be able to use Hydride affinity Lewis acidity scale and explain the key factors that affect Lewis acidity in general (including towards bulky bases).</li> <li> Understand the concept of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) and the different types of FLPs (bimolecular / unimolecular / thermally activated).</li> <li> Describe the factors effecting the energetics of FLP H2 activation</li> <li> Know the mechanisms, and understand the effect of Lewis base/ Lewis acid variation, in catalytic hydrogenations of activated alkenes / imines / carbonyls / aromatics.</li> <li> Know how to hydrogenate electron poor alkenes/alkynes with FLPs.</li> <li> Know how to achieve tolerance to O-H (including water) in FLP chemistry.</li> <li> Be familiar with the other common, non boron based, Lewis acids used in FLP chemistry and the key differences to boron based Lewis acids in FLP reactivity using these Lewis acids.</li> <li> Explain the differences between FLP Si-H and H-H activation mechanisms (encounter complexes)</li> <li> Be familiar with the mechanisms of FLP catalysed hydrosilylation of E=Y, C=C and C&equiv;C bonds.</li> <li> Understand how B(C6F5)3 can activate silanes to reduce ethers / C-F bonds</li> <li> Understand how FLPs react with unsaturated polar E=Y bonds (in the absence of H-H / Si-H).</li></ul> Molecular Magnetism: tools and applications<ul> <li> Explain the difference between electronic spin and orbital angular momenta</li> <li> Determine thermodynamic populations/probabilities in an ensemble of quantum systems using the Boltzmann distribution</li> <li> Mathematically explain the Zeeman effect and explain its influence on electronic spins</li> <li> Employ vector coupling to determine the spin ground state of molecule</li> <li> Determine the spin ground state of a molecule, the spin states of the constituent magnetic ions and the nature of the nearest-neighbour magnetic exchange interactions using low and high temperature magnetic susceptibility and magnetisation data</li> <li> Define magnetic anisotropy and explain how it arises in paramagnetic molecules</li> <li> Determine the Hund’s rule ground term for trivalent lanthanide ions</li> <li> Employ the electrostatic model for identification of the orientation of the ground state magnetic anisotropy and for the design of SMMs, for lanthanide-based molecules</li> <li> Describe and illustrate the various fundamental spin-phonon transitions associated wi The following transferable skills will need to be used by students in order to complete this unit successfully:<ul> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Problem solving – the application of problem solving skills to analyse data and draw appropriate conclusions;</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Communication skills – the ability to effectively and concisely convey answers using the appropriate chemical terminology, and to read and extract key information from the primary literature;</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Numeracy and mathematical skills – from data handling and problem solving.</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Analytical skills – the ability to break down and analyse problems and to interpret given data;</li></ul> 1 Written exam 100% <ul> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Open format 'surgery' session(s) will be held with all lecturing staff present who will provide help/support and feedback on attempted past questions.</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> Each of the four lecture sections will provide formative feedback, using either on-line assessments, set/marked pieces of work or workshops.</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> “Feed-forward” from previous examination attempts including any common misconceptions will be provided.</li> <li style="margin-left: 18pt;"> All lecturering staff will be available for discussions/help with their section of the course during advertised “office hours”.</li></ul> N General material:·        F A Cotton & G Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Wiley.·        N N Greenwood & A Earnshaw, Chemistry of the Elements, Pergamon.·        Ch Elschenbroich, Organometallics: A Concise Introduction, 3rd edition, VCH Other references will be given during the course including primary literature sources which will be presented/used, and will also be available on the course web site. Assessment written exam 2 Lectures 24 Practical classes & workshops 4 0 70