Molecular Engineering for Imaging
Full course description
The engineering of molecules, traditionally called organic synthesis, has evolved from classical batch type reaction sequences to highly advanced flow-based processes and is a vibrant dynamic scientific area. Ranging from the syntheses of peptides, complex glycan’s and modified proteins to functionalized monoclonal antibodies, smart materials and all the way to the molecular engineering of smaller building blocks, fine-chemicals and novel medicinal drugs. Often both methodology as well as targeted molecules are inspired by Nature, be it bio-inspired synthesis or natural products. The design, route scouting and availability of many of the highly innovative new technologies justifies the term “molecular engineering”.
Another important driving force in molecular engineering is to adopt sustainable “green” synthesis alternatives as an economically viable means to produce high-added-value materials, medicines, imaging probes and catalysts. In this light, flow-chemistry and new flow-reactor design have emerged as powerful enabling tools to discover next level molecular engineering methods in photo, electro and plasma chemistry, as well as one-pot synthesis strategies and bio-, organo- and base-metal catalysis.
Evidently, molecular engineering has positioned itself as an important scientific domain in biology, pharmaceutical and base chemical industry, biotechnology, agriculture and food industry.
The main objective of this course is to revive and deepen the basis in advanced organic synthesis, including new developments like (flow) reactor design, (bio)-catalysis, photochemistry (synthetic polymers) and chemical modification of biopolymers. Retrosynthetic analysis, Natural product chemistry and bio-inspired synthetic methodology will be at the heart of this course in order to reach –out to the advanced application areas discussed above.
Course objectives
After completing this course, you are able to:
- Understand the basic processes in advanced chemical synthesis and able to evaluate or design efficient (yield, selectivity) and cost effective (green) synthesis routes.
- Explain principles in the design of stereo- and region selective chemical synthesis routes.
- Design and evaluate optimal batch or flow-reactors, based on a basic knowledge of reactor engineering.
- Understand and apply photo- & electro chemically directed chemical conversions in e.g. flow-reactors and evaluate the utility of bio-catalysis as well as other advanced catalytic processes in the industrial chemistry.
- Design and evaluate advanced multistep synthesis routes for the chemical creation and/or modification / functionalization of e.g. biopolymers, monoclonal antibodies, imaging tools and other advanced high-added-value molecules.
- Integrate insights from literature in designing total synthesis routes
- Write and defend a research proposal, as well as reviewing a proposal by offering critical feedback.
Recommended reading
Mandatory:
- Clayden, J., Greeves, N., & Warren, S. (2012). Organic Chemistry (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Lecture slides and additional literature will be provided to complement this textbook.
Recommended:
- Carey, F. A., & Sundberg, R. J. (2007). Advanced Organic Chemistry: Part A: Structure and Mechanisms (5th ed., Vol. A). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-44899-2
- Carey, F. A., & Sundberg, R. J. (2007). Advanced Organic Chemistry: Part B: Reactions and synthesis (5th ed., Vol. B). Springer. https://10.1007/978-0-387-71481-3
- Wardle, B. (2009). Principles and Applications of Photochemistry. Wiley.
- Mann, U. (2009). Principles of Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design: New Tools for Industrial Chemical Reactor Operations (2nd ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470385821
- Darvas, F., Dorman, G., & Hessel, V. (Eds.) (2014). Flow Chemistry: Organic Synthesis in Motion: Fundamentals (Vol. 1). Walter de Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110289169
- Faber, K. (2018). Biotransformations in Organic Chemistry: A Textbook (7th ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61590-5
- Aehle, W. (Ed.). (2007). Enzymes in Industry: Production and Applications (3rd ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527617098
- Giese, B.M., Pade, C., Wigger, H., & von Gleich, A. (Eds.). (2015). Synthetic Biology: Character and Impact. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02783-8
- R.V.A. Orrù