Applied organic chemistry with lab

As to the frontal/Seneci's part, the course aims to provide the student with a good knowledge of the main industrial sectors where synthetic organic chemistry is relevant. Some meaningful examples are presented and thoroughly discussed during the theoretical part of the course. Several intermediates and compounds with industrial relevance will be prepared and characterized during the experimental/laboratory module.
The students will take advantage of this course, as it will provide a general overview of the industrial applications of synthetic organic chemistry. Among the four selected industrial applications dealt with in the theoretical course (pharma, agro, renewable energies and nanotech), the student will get information about modern trends for each sector, and will become ready to consider each of them for his/her future working experiences.
As to course frontal sub-modules - Seneci (6 CFUs),
Pharmaceutical research - 24 hours: identification of a target, discovery of hits and leads, structural optimization of active leads, synthetic strategies on a large scale. Identification of kinesins as anticancer targets through chemical genetics, development of MK-731 as an anticancer compound. Identification of kinase inhibitors using fragment-based drug discovery, development of AT519 as an antitumor compound. Discovery of statins as drugs against hypercholesterolemia, development and commercialization of fluvastatin-LescolTM. Discovery of beta-lactams and cephalosporins, industrial synthesis of ceftibuten.
Agro research - 6 hours: herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Field use, industrial and environmental issues. Rational design and synthesis of neonicotinoid insecticides, development and commercialization of imidacloprid.
Energy and Environment - 12 hours: renewable energy sources, hydrogen economy, greenhouse effect, carbon sources. CO2 capture, storage and conversion to MeOH. Methanol fuel cells, dye-sensitized solar cells. Complexes of Ru and organic ligands as dye-sensitizers.
Nanotechnology - 6 hours: definitions, physical and chemical phenomena at the nano-scale, industrial applications. Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene: synthesis using physical and organic-chemical methods, covalent and noncovalent functionalization, properties.

As to the laboratory/Perdicchia's module (3 CFUs), the laboratory experiences will include the synthesis of organic molecules useful for industrial applications, their purification and characterization using simple analytical techniques.