MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (MOCH)

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The programme is aimed at producing graduates ready for employment, research and innovation in industry, universities and research institutes. The program includes the study of structure, properties and reactions of organic compounds. The students are able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and show originality in tackling and solving problems as well as gaining entrepreneurship skills in the manufacturing industry. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Sciences or related field from any university recognized by Midlands State University. 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

After completing the programme graduates are open to the following roles:-

-in pharmaceuticals, agrochemical, plastic and polymer, cosmetic, petrochemical industry as technical business analysts, production managers (supervisors), product development chemists/managers, quality controllers or quality assurance managers

-in research and development departments in industry and research institutes 

-in government and private laboratories as technicians, analysts, research and research and development scientists 

– in universities as laboratory technicians, research scientists, research associates and teaching assistants 

–pursue PhD in Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences and other relevant related areas    

 

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

.     *Denotes core modules which are not Minimum Body of Knowledge and Skills

            **Denotes core modules which are Minimum Body of Knowledge and Skills

Level 1 Semester 1

CODE Module Description Credits
**MOCH 801 General Chemistry 18
**MOCH 802 Inorganic  Chemistry 18
**MOCH 803 Physical Chemistry 18
*MOCH 804 Research Methods and Statistics 18
**MOCH 805 Laboratory Practical 1 18

Level 1 Semester 2

CODE Module Description Credits
**MOCH 806 Organic Reaction Mechanisms I 18
**MOCH 807 Modern Organic Synthesis I 18
**MOCH 808 Organic Spectroscopy I 18
*MOCH 809 Chemistry of Natural Products  18
**MOCH 810 Laboratory Practical II 18

 

Level 2 Semester 1

CODE Module Description Prerequisite Credits
**MOCH 901 Organic Reaction Mechanisms II MOCH 806 18
**MOCH 902 Organic Spectroscopy II MOCH 808 18
**MOCH 903 Modern Organic Synthesis II MOCH 807 18
*MOCH 904 Bio-Organic Chemistry   18
*MOCH 905 Medicinal, Biogenesis and Green Chemistry   18

 

Level 2 Semester 2

CODE Module Description Credits
**MOCH 906 Dissertation 90

 

SYNOPSES

 

MOCH 801 GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Computation of analytical results, concept of error, precision and accuracy, standard deviation, rejection of doubtful values with special reference to volumetric and gravimetric analysis. Calibration of analytical equipment. Methods of purification- distillation, drying techniques, solvent extraction, crystallisation techniques. Adsorption and partition chromatography- introduction to chromatography, column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, paper chromatography, Gas chromatography and HPLC. Titrimetric analysis.

 

MOCH 802 INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Introduction to Exact Quantum Mechanical Results, Approximate Methods, Metal π- complexes, Structure and Bonding, Metal-ligand bonding, Metal-ligand Equilibria in solutions. Non-metal cages and metal clusters, Organometallic chemistry of transition metals, Reaction mechanism of transition metal complexes, Electronic spectra of transition metal complexes, Bio-inorganic chemistry and magnetic properties of complexes.

 

MOCH 803 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

Classical thermodynamics, Conditions of equilibrium and spontaneity, Surface phenomena and phase equilibria, Surface active agents, Electrochemistry, Chemical kinetics, Reactions in solutions, Motion of molecules, Microwave Spectroscopy, Rotational Vibrational Spectroscopy, Third law and Statistical thermodynamics, Raman Spectroscopy, Electrodes, photo chemistry, Symmetry and Group theory in chemistry.

MOCH 804 RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS

Principles of research, managing a research project; performing a literature review; organizing and performing data collection, analysis and presentation; writing and presenting a technical paper/report; understanding the dynamics of team working; critically evaluating a given research project and applying the findings appropriately; developing subject-specific skills. Major project: carried out in teams and reported in written and oral form.

 

MOCH 805 LABORATORY PRACTICAL I

General methods of separation and purification of organic compounds. Preparation of some chromatography and qualitative analysis.

 

MOCH 806 ORGANIC REACTION MECHANISMS I

Aliphatic Nucleophilic Substitution, Aliphatic Electrophilic Substitution, Principles of asymmetric synthesis, Pericyclic Reactions-I, Pericyclic Reactions-II.

 

MOCH 807 MODERN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS I

Formation of C-C single bonds, Formation of Carbon-Carbon double bonds, Reactions of unactivated C-H bonds and organoboranes, Protecting groups and Synthetic applications of PTC and crown ethers.

 

MOCH 808 ORGANIC SPECTROSCOPY I

UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry.

MOCH 809 CHEMISTRY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS

Heterocyclic Compounds, Benzfused heterocycles, Carbohydrate, Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Steroids, Flavonoids and Isoflavonoids.

 

MOCH 810 LABORATORY PRACTICAL II

Multistep synthesis of organic compounds

 

MOCH 901 ORGANIC REACTION MECHANISMS II

Free Radical Reactions, Rearrangements, Methodologies in asymmetric synthesis, Photo Chemistry-I, Photochemistry-II.

 

MOCH 902 ORGANIC SPECTROSCOPY II

Optical Rotatory Dispersion (ORD) and CD spectroscopy, Improving the PMR spectrum, Simplification of complex spectra, 2D NMR spectroscopy, Solution of structural problems by joint application of UV, IR, NMR and MS.

 

MOCH 903 MODERN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS II

Organo Silanes, Oxidation, Reduction, Retro Synthetic Analysis.

MOCH 904 BIO-ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Cell Structure and Functions, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Biopolymers, Antimalarials and Antibiotics, Vitamins, Nucleic Acids, Amino-acids, Peptides and Proteins, Enzymes and Enzyme Models, Biotechnological Applications of Enzymes

 

MOCH 905 MEDICINAL, BIOGENESIS AND GREEN CHEMISTRY

Drug discovery, design and development; Drug design, development and synthesis- Introduction to quantitative structure activity relationship studies; Introduction to modern methods of drug design and synthesis; Concept of prodrugs and soft drugs, Synthesis and application of the following drugs: Fluoxetine, cetrizine, esomeprazole, fluconazole, zidovudine, methotrexate, diclofenac, labetalol, fenofibrate. Biogenesis and biosynthesis of natural products- Primary and secondary metabolites and the building blocks, general pathway of amino acid biosynthesis; Acetate pathway; Shikimic Acid pathway; Mevalonate pathway. Green chemistry- Introduction, basic principles of green chemistry; Use of green synthesis with suitable examples; Comparison of traditional processes versus green processes in the syntheses; Green Catalysts.

 

MOCH 906 Dissertation 

This is a research project, based on a dissertation on an approved topic in the area of pharmaceutical chemistry. The module consists of project proposal, progress report and the final dissertation, together with oral presentations of each stage