Modules offered for CHEM 750 and CHEM 751 in 2025.
This is a provisional list and updated information will be available at the beginning of each semester.
FIRST SEMESTER
Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and ApplicationsSince its discovery in the early 1950s, NMR spectroscopy has mainly been associated with the study of solutions. However, more recent developments have resulted in a situation where solid-state NMR spectra can now be obtained (almost) as easily as solution spectra. There are two main advantages of solid-state NMR: (a) There is more information in solid-state spectra than in solution spectra, and (b) The method is applicable (with some variations in technique) to all types of solids so that it can be applied to a wide range of materials of practical importance. A particularly important aspect is that commercially important materials such as minerals (including zeolites, coal), wood, polymers, and foodstuffs can be investigated, as well as solid organic, inorganic and organometallic compounds. The lectures in this course will cover the background theory of the solid-state NMR of both spin ½ and quadrupolar (spin > ½) nuclei and will illustrate the applications of the technique in the various areas mentioned above.Lectures: 8 lecturesAssessment: Assignment (20 %) and a one-hour test (80 %).
HeterocyclesCyclic molecules in which one or more carbon atom is replaced by a heteroatom (commonly nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur) account for well over half of all known organic compounds. Many classes of natural products, as well as a large majority of commercially important drugs, agrochemicals, reprographic materials, dyes, etc., contain heterocyclic rings. The commercial relevance of heterocyclic compounds is amply demonstrated by a recent list of best-selling pharmaceuticals. In the 12 months to 2010, seven of the top ten best-sellers were nitrogen heterocycles. This module will discuss the synthesis, fundamental chemistry and applications of various heterocyclic rings.Lectures: 8 lecturesAssessment: Two tests - (25 %) and (75 %).
Synthesis of Peptides and PeptidomimeticsPeptides are biologically occurring oligomers of amino acids, distinguished from proteins by their smaller size. Peptide-based therapeutics now constitute a multi-billion dollar market with over 400 peptide candidates that have entered clinical trials. With the growing interest in peptide and peptidomimetic therapeutics, so too has grown the importance of modern synthetic approaches to provide these valuable medicinal candidates. This module covers the basic components and structural aspects of peptides and their synthesis, placing an emphasis on modern solid phase methodologies, including:• Amino acid chemistry, the nature of the peptide bond and peptide primary, secondary and tertiary structure.• The synthesis of peptides, with an emphasis on modern solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) techniques.• Native Chemical Ligation (NCL) implemented in the total chemical synthesis of proteins such as erythropoietin (EPO).• Strategies to modify peptides / the synthesis of peptidomimetics e.g. cyclisation, N-alkylation, glycosylation, and the implementation of techniques such as “Click” chemistry and Ring Closing Metathesis (RCM).Lectures: 8 Lectures (Dr Alan Cameron)Assessment: Assignment – (30%); Test - (70%)
Cancer drugs: Design, Chemistry, and Mechanism of ActionThe course will briefly introduce the fundamentals of cancer as a genetic disease and describe the main modalities of cancer treatment. We will focus on the principles of design, chemistry, and mechanisms of action of the major classes of cancer drugs that patients receive during their treatment, including:• Drugs that target DNA synthesis, transcription, segregation, and repair• Drugs targeting metabolite and hormone-signaling pathways• Antibody approaches to tumor targeting• Drugs targeting oncogenic signal transduction pathways (kinase inhibitors)Lectures: 8 lecturesAssessment: Assignment (25 %) and a one-hour test (75 %).
SECOND SEMESTER
Peptide Design, Engineering and ApplicationsPeptides are an interesting class of molecules with applications in agriculture, biology, medicine and material science. Peptides have evolved in nature to take on highly specific functions, have great potency and are much smaller than recombinant proteins and antibodies. The field of therapeutic peptides is undergoing a very exciting revival owing to substantial technological progress during the last decade. This module covers various aspects of these fascinating molecules, including:• Design and development of antimicrobial peptides as potential treatment options against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial biofilms• Introduction to the world of Cell Penetrating Peptides• Bio-adhesive peptides as wound sealants• Peptide-based solutions for current horticultural problems in New ZealandLectures: 8 LecturesAssessment: Test 1 – (25%); Test 2 - (75%)
Inorganic Rings, Chains, and PolymersCarbon-based rings, chains, and polymers are ubiquitous. These molecules and macromolecules make up solvents (e.g. benzene, cyclohexane, hexane) and hundreds of other products that we see and use every day (e.g. banknotes, clothing, structural materials, plastics). In contrast, the formation of rings, chains, and polymers containing exclusively main-group atoms in the backbone is in their relative infancy. These require different synthetic techniques to access but can be made from earth-abundant elements and have some very interesting potential applications. This module will cover the synthesis and utility of inorganic rings, chains, and polymers with an emphasis on some of the challenges and future directions in this field.Lectures: 8 LecturesAssessment: Assignment (40 %) and a one-hour test (60 %).
Aqueous Radical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and BiologySince the discovery that radicals play important roles in aging and disease, there has been much research interest in the mechanisms involved. This course will explore the environmental and biological sources of free radicals, their reactions with cellular targets, amelioration by both cellular and dietary antioxidants, and their use in certain anticancer treatment regimes. Central to gaining insights into the action of radicals, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, has been the radiation chemistry of target molecules in an aqueous solution. Oxidation and reduction reactions are able to be studied following the fast breakdown of solvent water by ionizing radiation into radical oxidants and reductants. A full description of radical reactivity is derived from the consideration of redox potentials, and kinetic factors, as well as the identification of transient intermediates and products. The course will include the measurement of these controlling factors and their use in understanding important reactions related to health.Coordinator/Lecturer: Professor Bob AndersonLectures: 8 lectures, 1 optional tutorialAssessment: Assignment (25%) and a one-hour test (75%).
Advanced Organic MechanismsIn the last couple of decades, synthetic organic chemistry has seen enormous innovation and reaction development, building on the already strong foundation of more established classical methods. This course will build on topics covered in CHEM330 and CHEM730, to delve into a selection of the most important of these recently-developed reaction classes. We will take the time to look into the details of selected reaction mechanisms, their underlying fundamental principles and explore some illustrative examples of their application in the literature. Likely areas of focus include transition metal based catalysts and important catalytic transformations, photoredox chemistry, cycloaddition reactions, N-heterocyclic carbenes, aspects relevant to green chemistry and strategies to apply the above for assembly of molecular scaffolds relevant to drug design, natural products and novel materials.Coordinator/Lecturer: A/Prof Dan FurkertLectures: 8 lectures (A/Prof Dan Furkert)Assessment: Two assignments (30% each, 60% total) and a one-hour test (40 %).