A. Physical methods in inorganic chemistry1. Multinuclear NMR in inorganic chemistry2. Electronic spectra of coordination compounds (crystal field theory and ligand field theory, Tanabe Sugano analysis)3. Photochemical reactions (excited state reactivity) of transition metal complexes4. Magnetic properties of transition metal complexes
B. Transition metal organometallic chemistry
1. Classification of organometallic compounds
2. Transition metal carbonyls, simple alkene complexes, alkyne complexes, allyl and –enyl complexes
3. Transition Metal-Carbon σ-Bonds, σ-Donor/π-Acceptor ligands
4. Organometallic catalysis
C. Bioinorganic chemistry
Bioinorganic Chemistry is an interdisciplinary research area that deals with all aspects of metals and their biological functions. The lectures will provide insight into the central role of coordination compounds in nature, and point out the potential for application as drugs. Selected examples will lead the students to an understanding of fascinating processes occurring in bioinorganic chemistry.
• General aspects of bioinorganic chemistry
• Biological ligand systems
• Role of metals in nature
• Metals and proteins (Fe, Zn, Mn, etc.)
• Metals and toxicity
• Metal compounds in the treatment of different diseases imaging and diagnosis
D. Kinetics and thermodynamics in inorganic chemistry
Investigating the kinetics of a reaction and understanding the thermodynamics of the transformation help to build an accurate picture of the corresponding energetic landscape and provide insight into the reaction mechanism(s) involved. • Terms and equations: equilibrium constant, ground state, transition state, intermediate, rate constant, activation energy, reaction order, rate law, Arrhenius Equation, Eyring Equation, entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, inert/labile, nucleophilicity/electrophilicity, basicity/acidity• Ligand substitution reactions: trans effect/trans influence, Associative/Dissociative/Interchange mechanisms
E. Main-Group Chemistry The chemistry of the s- and p- blocks in the periodic table is an ever-expanding field with many recent advances in the area. • Fundamentals in synthesizing E-C, E-E and E-E’ bonds (E, E’ = main-group element) • Structures, properties, reactivity and uses of molecules and macromolecules containing s- and p- block elements