Chemistry with Biological and Medicinal Chemistry MChem

This is the first module that you'll take as an undergraduate student. It is designed to give you an understanding of the fundamental concepts in chemistry and introduce you to the key practical skills that every chemist needs.

You'll learn how to apply key concepts and interpret chemical information to solve basic problems through lectures, workshops, tutorials and laboratory work.

You'll cover topics including an introduction to organic chemistry, how to identify and analyse different chemicals and elements, and the structure of atoms, molecules and solids. You'll also start to build a strong foundation in laboratory techniques.

This module continues to develop your understanding of the foundations of modern degree-level chemistry and associated laboratory skills. 

You'll learn about core principles from inorganic, biological, organic and physical chemistry through lectures, workshops, tutorials and laboratory work.  You'll learn how to apply these core principles to address chemical problems, and understand the behaviour of atomic and molecular systems.

You'll continue to advance your knowledge of essential laboratory skills, by conducting independent experimental work and data analysis.

This module provides first year chemistry students with the broader academic and professional skills required to study chemistry at degree level. The module includes fundamental physics and mathematics, data analysis, computing skills, and searching and using the scientific literature. Students will also undertake a group project on the standards and values expected of a professional chemist.

The module has been designed to introduce students to varied methods of learning and teaching used throughout the programme including online self-led activities, lectures and group work.

Chemistry plays a crucial role in the world around us, acting as the backbone of fundamental biological processes and helping to create a sustainable future. This module explores how chemistry explains the principles behind the biology we experience in our day-to-day lives, and the contributions chemists can make to society, with a particular focus on sustainability. 

You'll learn about the strong link between human activity, the biological world around us and sustainability. You'll also develop the ability to explain scientific concepts to a range of audiences, working in groups to produce infographics, videos and magazine articles.

This module integrates advanced practical work with digital fluency and professional development. 

You'll refine your technical competence through a diverse range of experimental techniques across inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry. Beyond acquiring data, you'll focus on the critical evaluation of results, learning to draw evidence-based conclusions from your findings. 

Complementing your laboratory skills, you'll develop an understanding of the growing role of digital chemistry. You'll utilise chemical databases to retrieve information and apply computational methods to model molecular systems and process experimental data. 

We'll also explore chemistry's place  in a commercial context, challenging you to transform a scientific concept into a business opportunity, while critically reflecting on your own professional development and career aspirations.

This module expands upon fundamental concepts established earlier in this course to investigate the relationship between chemical structure and reactivity.

You'll explore the diverse chemistry of main group elements and transition metals, applying concepts of symmetry and bonding to rationalise their behaviour in both molecular and solid-state systems. In parallel, you'll develop strategies to manipulate organic molecules, examining the mechanisms and selectivity that govern the reactions of key functional groups.

This module builds upon the physical and analytical chemistry foundations established earlier in the course to focus on the quantification and modelling of chemical systems. 

You'll delve into the principles of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics, applying theoretical models to understand the behaviour of chemical systems. You'll also develop the skills to interpret analytical data, using the principles of separation science and applied spectroscopy to elucidate the structures of both organic and inorganic compounds.

This module expands upon the core concepts established earlier in the course to provide a deeper insight into how chemists think, moving from observation to design and fundamental explanation. 

You'll explore the logic of retrosynthetic analysis, learning to deconstruct complex organic targets to devise efficient synthetic strategies. This strategic approach extends to materials science, where you'll be introduced to polymer chemistry and the principles governing macromolecular properties.

In parallel, you'll investigate the mechanistic behaviour of transition metal complexes, providing a rigorous understanding of their reactivity. You'll also delve into the theory of spectroscopy, uncovering the fundamental quantum mechanical rules that dictate how light interacts with matter.

This module explores the fundamental chemical principles that drive complex cellular processes.

You'll examine the relationship between the structure, folding and function of essential biological molecules. This will include the mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme catalysis, and the molecular mechanisms involved in DNA replication, transcription and translation.

You'll apply computational tools and interpret real-world data from modern spectroscopic and structural biology techniques to visualise and study biomolecular structure and interactions. By developing a mechanistic understanding of these processes, you'll gain an essential foundation for further study in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry.

Through this module you'll hone the skills and knowledge required of a graduate-level professional.

You'll undertake extended project work, which will include relating project work to the literature, setting project aims and objectives, planning and carrying out the work, and reporting it using disciplinary conventions.

You'll investigate how your academic studies relate to either research, society, or industry. You'll develop an understanding of where your degree could lead you and reflect on your career ambitions.You'll also undertake activities to develop the professional skills needed to complete applications for employment or further study.

Building upon core principles established earlier in your degree, this module explores the frontiers of organic chemistry. You will examine the electronic and stereochemical frameworks used to predict reaction outcomes, alongside the physical-organic principles used to investigate reaction mechanisms. By engaging with modern synthetic methodologies, including catalytic transformations and the construction of complex molecular scaffolds, you will learn to devise viable routes for the synthesis of target molecules and assess the experimental evidence supporting proposed reaction mechanisms.

Building upon core principles established earlier in your degree, this module explores the frontiers of physical chemistry. You will examine the mathematical models that underpin our understanding of matter alongside the advanced techniques used to characterise it. By critically analysing the interplay between measurement and modelling in complex systems, you will gain a deeper appreciation of the laws governing chemical behaviour, equipping you with the quantitative tools necessary to tackle advanced problems.

Building upon core principles established earlier in your degree, this module explores the frontiers of inorganic chemistry, including the synthesis, properties and characterisation of inorganic compounds and materials. You will examine how fundamental aspects of structure and bonding govern the reactivity of coordination complexes and organometallic compounds as well as their magnetic, optical and catalytic properties. By investigating modern structure determination techniques, you will develop the skills required to rationalise the properties of diverse compounds, from molecular catalysts to advanced solid-state materials.

This module explores the multidisciplinary frontier where chemistry meets biology. Medicinal chemistry has fundamentally reshaped global healthcare and extended life expectancy. Modern medicine extends beyond small molecule drugs, embracing chemical biology to develop  DNA, RNA and protein-based therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics. 

You'll investigate the molecular mechanisms of disease and evaluate the chemical tools used to probe complex biological systems.

Moving from theory to therapeutic application, you'll formulate strategies for the rational design and development of precise, personalised treatments.

You'll critically evaluate the synthetic routes used to develop organic, inorganic, and biopolymer-based drugs. You'll also explore cutting-edge concepts including bioorthogonal chemistry, combinatorial discovery, and the potential of sequencing and gene editing technologies.

The discovery and development of new drugs requires a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and toxicology. In this module, students learn about these areas as they build on their organic and medicinal chemistry knowledge from earlier in their degrees. It covers concepts including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and basic toxicology, and looks in detail at strategies for optimising the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. There is also a focus on computing technologies, including computer-aided drug design tools and quantitative structure:activity relationship models. Students learn about the fundamental chemistry behind the synthesis of specific drugs throughout the module.

This module explains how structural, electronic, thermal, chemical and other properties of materials can be harnessed to help solve technological and environmental challenges. The functional materials covered are based on supramolecular assembly, leading predominantly to crystalline materials. Students learn about design strategies, molecular properties, and material function, using concepts from coordination and solid-state chemistry, organic chemistry and thermodynamics. The role of materials properties in applications such as sensing, molecular separations, gas adsorption, catalysis, drug delivery, propulsion, gas generation and blasting will be discussed in the context of energy, health care, transport, engineering and the environment.

Module Aims:

A1. introduce a variety of materials developed and used in state-of-the-art research and technology with a focus reflecting current research interests at the University of Sheffield such as supramolecular materials, metal-organic frameworks and energetic materials.

A2. explain the chemical principles behind the design and synthesis of these different classes of materials.

A3. explain how the chemical structure of these materials enables their function and properties.

A4. describe how the properties lead to the materials' applications in various areas such as sensing, molecular separations, gas adsorption, catalysis, drug delivery, propulsion, gas generation and blasting.  

A5. relate the importance of materials chemistry in tackling modern technological and environmental challenges.

Chemists' ability to synthesise organic molecules with defined stereochemistry is the backbone of many useful applications, from medicines to new materials. Modern methods of organic synthesis rely on sophisticated and efficient chemical reactions that create exquisite levels of functional group selectivity and stereochemical control. This module will explain the cutting edge processes that achieve these objectives, in the context of catalysis and stereoselective synthesis. There is a focus on transformations that are promoted by a sub-stoichiometric amount of catalyst. Concepts behind controlling stereochemistry in important synthetic chemical reactions will also be explained.

Module Aims:

A1. Provide students with knowledge and appreciation of advanced organic chemical reactions involving main group and transition metal catalyst systems, as well as organocatalysts.

A2. Provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand how organic reactions can be designed to generate desired products selectively.

A3. Make students aware of the uses of these reactions in the context of modern organic synthesis.

Understanding processes caused by light is key in chemistry, physics, biology and engineering, and has recently led to many major scientific breakthroughs. This course explains how light and matter interact in molecules, nanostructures and materials. It will explain photoinduced electron and energy transfer - essential processes in nature and everyday life - using examples of natural and artificial photosynthesis. Modern techniques for studying light-induced processes, on time-scales from seconds to femtoseconds, are also covered. The theory is taught in the context of applications in photocatalysis, photonics and optoelectronics, solar energy conversion, and light-induced processes in medicine.

The principles of theoretical chemistry can explain and predict chemical phenomena across all the main branches of chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical, analytical), and can shed light on molecular aspects of physics and biology. A wide range of methods and models are covered, including density functional theory, coupled cluster, time-dependent quantum mechanics, and more. Students are taught to assess these methods and models' suitability for different tasks, and put the theory into practice by using them to interpret chemical phenomena in hands-on projects.

Our current carbon intensive technologies support our materials rich way of life and in order to maintain our living standards we need to decarbonise those technologies.  We need to make better use of both fossil-based and renewable resources, and move towards a zero-waste, circular economy. Topics include the current status of the industry, life-cycle analysis, non-fossil fuel and feedstocks, and reuse, remanufacturing and recycling, which will find applications for the areas of: fine chemicals and commodities; plastic and polymers; and other materials for construction. This module aims to: 1. Introduce students to life cycle analysis and how LCAs can be used to determine the sustainability of a process or product. 2. Provide students with a broad, critical, overview of the methods through which polymer science can be made more sustainable. 3. Discuss and explain to reduce waste and environmental impact for large scale manufacturing processes for commodities and construction materials

Reactions catalysed by metals are hugely important in the chemical industry, where they are used to produce bulk chemicals at large scales and fine chemicals at smaller ones. This module explains the heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic processes behind some of the most economically important chemical reactions. It covers the chemical basis of these process, and their advantages and disadvantages of heterogeneous and homogeneous systems. There is a focus on reaction mechanisms and the role of the metal centre, and fundamental physical processes such as adsorption and reaction kinetics. Concepts are illustrated by analysing, in detail, catalytic reactions including hydrogenation, oxidation, carbonylation and polymerisation.

Module Aims:

A1. Describe and explain the physical and chemical basis of homogeneous and heterogeneous metal-catalysed processes

A2. Illustrate the importance of metal-catalysed reactions in industrial chemical production

A3. Discuss the mechanisms of catalytic processes, and the experimental evidence upon which these are based

A4. Demonstrate recent developments in the field with state-of-the-art examples from the literature

The recent growth of knowledge and debates about sustainable development led to research in sustainability, however and to some extent paradoxically, there is often a lack of consensus on what sustainability really means. For example, in the context of Sustainable Energetic Resources, this could either mean: (i) renewables, (ii) minimization of usage, (iii) source reduction (like the redesign of manufacturing processes). Another example could be in the implementation of recycling policies, when these are actually referring to reuse and repair, which are all distinct concepts.

Furthermore a full account on what makes a process or development sustainable, should consider multiple factors like: technical and scientific advances in the area, ecological, economic and societal principles, and ethical investments as a whole.

This module will provide students with the tools that are needed to argue, judge and select a chemical or physical process or even the effect of a policy in terms of life cycle assessment. That is: by investigating specific case studies, students will evaluate all stages and the lifetime of products, their environmental impacts as well as services, manufacturing processes, to create and formulate decision-making aimed to determine if the implementation of a sustainable process or not.

This unit aims to allow students to work as a part of a team to investigate a relevant and debated topic in sustainability, and to be able to present their findings to a general audience by means of a magazine-like article and a video. The scope is to assemble and create a piece of work soundly rooted in matter of facts, for which the students will need to carry out a detailed and updated literature involving data gathering, with the goal to address research questions in sustainability and be able to write publishable material of interest for the general public.