Graduate

Presents an in-depth treatment of the biochemical and physiological mechanisms underlying toxicity and detoxication. Topics include chemical-biological interactions, receptor dynamics, multicompartment kinetics, chemical activation and detoxication, induction and inhibition, and the toxic biochemical and physiological mechanisms of both natural and anthropogenic toxins.

Current computational methods used to predict reaction products, evaluate conformational energies, and correlate NMR spectra with conformations are examined. Molecular mechanics treatments are compared to semiempirical AM1 calculations.

An advanced study of the strategy and reactions used in organic synthesis, with an emphasis on selectivity in organic transformations.

Qualitative molecular orbital concepts, especially concerning aromaticity, orbital symmetry, and perturbation theory, and their application toward interpretation of reactivity and mechanism. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours.

A survey of organic natural products from marine sources. Organic chemical structural families unique to marine organisms are outlined. Pathways of their synthesis and interconversions; their role in the marine environment; approaches to their analysis; the distribution of organics in seawater. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours.

An introduction to digital computers and their applications in chemistry. Includes Monte Carlo, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, modeling, simulation, and optimization problem-solving methods. Applications to include structural analysis, spectroscopy, organic synthesis, and kinetics. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours; laboratory: 1-1/2 hours.

An introduction to organoborane chemistry and its applications to synthetic organic chemistry, including principles, synthetic methods, reaction mechanisms, and asymmetric synthesis. A variety of topics including allylboration, boron-enolates, and asymmetric reductions are discussed.

Advanced study of synthesis and reactions of heterocyclic organic compounds; particular emphasis on structures with important medicinal value from natural products or pharmaceutical research.

Covers a range of topics including radical stabilization, rates of fundamental radical reactions, methods of radical generation, synthetic applications of free radicals, persistent radicals, and some aspects of free radicals in biology.

Kinetic approach to selected topics in mechanistic chemistry with emphasis on structure-reactivity relationships in organic as well as inorganic and biochemical systems. Discussion of significance and treatment of kinetic data illustrated with examples from various branches of chemistry. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.

Application of quantum mechanical techniques to the study of the electronic structure and properties of atoms and molecules. Topics include methods used to calculate the atomic and molecular wave functions, molecular symmetry, semiclassical radiation theory, magnetic interactions, and the utilization of approximate wave functions in interpreting molecular properties. Lecture-3-1/2 hours.

Introduces the basic theoretical principles of lasers and laser light. Various types of lasers and selected applications to chemistry are discussed. The use of lasers in photochemistry, spectroscopy, chemical kinetics, and chemical analysis is considered. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours.

A discussion of rate processes in gases. Descriptions of experimental and theoretical work on unimolecular, bimolecular, and termolecular reactions and energy transfer processes. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours.

Group theory and quantum mechanics are applied to problems of the electronic structure and spectra of molecules. A variety of topics including molecular orbital theory, reactivity, electronic structure calculations, and spectroscopy are discussed. Lecture: 3-1/2 hours.

Weekly meetings devoted to the study of physical and mechanistic organic chemistry. Topics drawn from the current literature and the research experiences of the participants.

A detailed study of various aspects of protein structure, folding, and aggregation in the context of the molecular mechanism of protein deposition diseases, with particular emphasis on Parkinson's disease and amyloidosis and the techniques involved in elucidating these mechanisms.

Weekly meetings devoted to a detailed study of the theory and applications of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging and related spectroscopic techniques to problems in biophysical chemistry. Topics are drawn from the current research literature and the research experiences of the participants.

Weekly meetings devoted to the study of computational chemistry. Topics include molecular modeling, synthesis planning, drug design, and others from current literature and research interests of the participants.

Open to chemistry graduate students interested in organic chemistry. Weekly meetings are held to hear both local and external speakers discuss their work.

A weekly seminar series covering topics on the frontiers of biochemistry and molecular biology. The speakers include experts in these fields from other institutions.

For those interested in following the recent developments in the various areas of inorganic chemistry. External speakers; weekly discussion based on personal research or recent literature, led by the inorganic chemistry faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students.

A weekly seminar series covering topics of current research in physical chemistry. Weekly meetings are held to hear both local and external speakers discuss their work.