Chemistry
Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry
Module code: F1611
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Workshop, Lecture
Assessment modes: Unseen examination, Coursework
Develop your understanding of the physical, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of transition metal coordination compounds and their reactivity. You’ll also study electron transfer reactions.
You’ll explore the main principles, looking at examples of transition metals in biological systems, including:
- ferritin
- haemoglobin
- photosynthesis
- nitrogenase enzymes.
You’ll also focus on the chemistry of metal-carbon bonds, including how unsaturated organic ligands coordinate to transition metals. In addition, you’ll study the reactivity of organometallic compounds, using examples of homogeneous catalysis such as:
- polymerisation
- hydroformylation
- cross-coupling.
Module learning outcomes
- Appreciate systematic trends and relationships between compounds of the transition metals, and an understanding of variations in behaviour within vertical groups.
- Understand how ligand field effects influence spectroscopic and magnetic properties of transition metal complexes, and how these effects determine reactivity.
- Understand the importance of metal-carbon bonds and how organic molecules coordinate to transition metals, including the importance of thermodynamic and kinetic stability.
- Demonstrate knowledge of important reactivity types shown by organometallic compounds and its relevance to homogeneous catalysis.