Course content

Basic concepts and nomenclature, chiral molecules. Significance of chirality for biological activity, chiral drugs. Analytical methods for chiral compounds. Methods to provide enantiopure compounds. Synthesis from enantiopure natural products. Asymmetric synthesis when source of
chirality is due to chiral substrate, substrate coupled with chiral auxilliary, chiral reagent or chiral catalyst. Catalysts with chiral natural or synthetic ligands and enzymes. Resolution of racemic mixtures, classical and kinetic. Examples of synthesis of chiral biologically active compounds.

Learning outcome

Synthesis of chiral enantiopure compounds has been much in focus in recent years. Such compounds, which are mirror images of one another, have different properties when they are ingredients of drugs and aroma or taste compounds. The course comprises analysis and synthesis of chiral compounds.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures (2 hours per week) and exercises (2 hours per week). If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may change from written to oral. English teaching by request.

Required previous knowledge

Basic courses in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.

Course materials

R.A.Aitken and S.N. Kilényi: Asymmetric Synthesis, Blackie Academic and Professional 1995, ISBN 0-7514-0190-0.

Credit reductions