Organometallic Chemistry

Owner	Bachelor Scheikunde (joint degree)
Coordinator	prof. dr. C.J. Elsevier
Part of	Exchange Programme Faculty of Science, specialisation BSc Chemistry, year 1Bachelor Chemistry (Joint Degree), year 3

Course manual 2019/2020

Course content

The subject concerns the chemistry of the special class molecules with at least one direct metal-carbon bond, the so-called organometallic compounds. Nowadays, almost all chemical syntheses and applications worldwide involve at least one step in which organometallic compounds play a crucial role as either reagents or catalysts. Sustainable applications (eg catalytic syntheses) were already introduced by organometallic chemistry even before the word was invented! It is a very interesting and important part of chemistry, in which many things can be discovered and learned.
During the course the student learns what organometallic connections are and how they are formed and react. Both the main group metals and transition metals are discussed. The student learns how to deal with concepts such as stability and reactivity, steric and electronic (un)saturation, determination of  electronic configurations and their meaning. Also the nomeclature, aspects of chemical bonding, the properties and reactivity of organometallic compounds are discussed. A part on rare-earth metals is done in self-study and a short paper is written about this part.

Study materials

Literature

• Atkins, Overton, Rourke et al. ‘Inorganic Chemistry’, nieuwste uitgave, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Other

• Hand outs op Canvas.

Objectives

• describe the most important principles of organometallic chemistry of main group metals and transition metals. 
• distinguish and identify classes of organometallic compounds on the basis of the periodic table. 
• consider whether an organometallic compound can exist thermodynamically, given the structure. 
• distinguish the main classes of reactions for the synthesis of organometallic compounds. 
• apply above to make proposals for the targeted synthesis of new organometallic compounds. 
• explain the main aspects of the structure and reactivity of organometallic compounds on the basis of the electronic structure and on considerations concerning crystal field and MO theory. 
• explain a number of applications of organometallic compounds, for example in catalysis and metal-assisted organic synthesis, with relevant reaction schemes. 
• describe the structure and functioning of a number of organometallic and metal-organic compounds that play a role in catalysis and life processes. 
• write a scientific summary on one or more articles concerning a class of compounds, reactivity etc. from the organometallic chemistry that is not discussed in the lectures. 

Teaching methods

• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
• Lecture
• Seminar

Lectures and seminars, some in integrated form. Self-efficacy in the processing and deepening of the material outside of the lectures is essential.
It is also important that the student makes assignments (from a seminars and assignments given during the lectures) at home. These are partly discussed. Furthermore, students prepare and write a short written paper (mini-thesis) concerning an assigned / chosen subject from organometallic chemistry. Searching, processing and writing about this is largely done outside of the lectures.

Learning activities

Academic skills

• Writing skills and the ability to inventory content of, summarize and report scientific articles / parts of books are practiced. There may be a research question that arises from the articles to be processed. It anticipates and can be considered as a practice component for writing of the larger literature thesis in third year
• The aim is to write a good, scientifically justified presentation of one or more articles concerning a branch of organometallic chemistry (i.e. the organo-lanthanides or -actinides chemistry, a component that is not dealt with in the lectures). New theory must be acquired and the theory learned in the lectures must be applied in explanatory terms. The subject of this short paper must be placed in the context of organometallic chemistry.
• The assessment takes place by the teachers and possibly by expert assistants.
• Participation in exams AND project must take place in the same year.
• Writing the paper is a compulsory part of the course.

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Active participation is expected of each student in the course for which he is registered.
• If a student cannot attend an obligatory part of a programme's component due to circumstances beyond his control, he must report in writing to the teacher in question as soon as possible. The teacher, if necessary after consulting the study adviser, may decide to issue the student a replacing assignment.
• It is not allowed to miss obligatory parts of the programme's component if there is no case of circumstances beyond one's control.
• In case of participating qualitatively or quantitatively insufficiently, the examiner can expel a student from further participation in the programme's component or a part of that component. Conditions for sufficient participation are fixed in advance in the study guide and/or on Canvas.

Assessment

Item and weight	Details
Final grade
1 (100%) Deeltoets

Two written partial tests and a written paper. If the first partial test is inadequate, a written examination must be done on the whole subject instead of the second partial test. Participating in the partial tests is optional; one may also only make the exam. The tests and exams are 'closed book'. The two partial exams each count for 35% (the partial examinations-substitute exam counts for 70%) and the assignment for 30% in the final mark.
The lower limits for the number of points of the three components to be achieved are set at (number of points / total): 19/35 for test 1, 19/35 for test 2 and 17/30 for the assignment; total 55/100. Assessment is made by the teachers and designated assistants.

All components must be completed within the same academic year.

Inspection of assessed work

The manner of inspection will be communicated via the digitial learning environment.

Assignments

Werkstuk

• Each student (alone or with max. 2 other enrolled students) writes a scientific essay. This part should be dealt with in the 2nd till 6th week of the course. The essay must be handed in about 2 weeks before the final exam. The essay is graded, see Assessment. Details and guide lines are given separately on dedicated files via Canvas. 

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

The course is a continuation and extension of the course Inorganic chemistry. It is descriptive chemistry for which subjects such as organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, parts of physical chemistry and spectroscopy are of great importance as a basis for gaining new knowledge and skills in this course. The course forms a link between organic and inorganic chemistry on the one hand (as a starting point) and transition metal chemistry, catalysis / sustainable chemistry and parts of biochemistry as a continuation later.

There is a Canvas site available where a large part of the material to be studied and treated is published.

Recommended prior knowledge: Knowledge and concepts from bachelor subjects including inorganic and organic chemistry, thermodynamics, MO theory and chemical bonding.

Processed course evaluations

Below you will find the adjustments in the course design in response to the course evaluations.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. C.J. Elsevier

dr. A.W. Ehlers en prof.dr. C.J. Elsevier