6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023255ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Registration for “(Bio)Polymers” is allowed for students MA Chemistry and with the prerequisite “Organische Chemie: Structuur", "Organische Chemie: Reactivieit" and "Organic Chemistry: Methods of Synthesis"(Bio)Polymers
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Chemistry
Educational team
Steven Ballet (course titular)
Niko Van den Brande
Ulrich Hennecke
Activities and contact hours
46 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
13 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Partim 1: Synthesis and Structure of Peptides 

Chapter 1. Introduction: What are peptides? & Why study peptides? 

Chapter 2. Peptide synthesis: Protection schemes, coupling procedures, strategy for solution synthesis and solid phase synthesis;  

Chapter 3. Peptide conformations: general aspects, including flexibility, secondary structure elements, conformational analysis by NMR 

Chapter 4. Limitations of natural peptides: Conformational constraints, Replacements of the peptide bond, Metabolic stabilization, Enzyme inhibitors, Case studies of synthetic methods, including ligation techniques. 

Partim 2: Oligonucleotides and oligosaccharides 

Chapter 1. Structure and function of carbohydrates; secondary structure formation of oligo- and polysaccharides. 

Chapter 2. Synthesis of Oligosaccharides: glycosylation methods and protecting group strategies. 

Chapter 3. Structure and function of nucleic acids; secondary structure formation (base-pairing; dimerization, double helices). 

Chapter 4. Synthesis of nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides. 

Chapter 5. Modified nucleic acids and their application in bioorganic chemistry and material science. 

 

Partim 3: Synthesis and properties of synthetic polymers 

Chapter 1. Introduction: important concepts 

Chapter 2. Step growth polymerization: polycondensation & polyaddition 

Chapter 3. Chain growth polymerization: radical, cationic, anionic, coordination, ring opening polymerization 

Chapter 4. Copolymerization 

Chapter 5. Properties and characterization of polymers 

Course material
Course text (Required) : Course text and lecture notes
Handbook (Recommended) : An introduction to peptide chemistry, P.D. Bailey, Wiley, 9780471935322, 1991
Handbook (Recommended) : Amino acid and peptide synthesis, John Jones, 2de, Oxford chemistry primers, 9780199257386, 2002
Handbook (Recommended) : Chemistry of Peptide Synthesis, N. Leo Benoiton, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL, 9781574444544, 2006
Handbook (Recommended) : Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Approach, Practical Approach Series, W, C. Chan P,D,White, Oxford Univesity Press, 9780199637249, 1999
Handbook (Recommended) : Chemical Approaches to the Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins, New Directions in Organic & Biological Chemistry, Paul Lloyd-Williams, Fernando Albericio, Ernest Giralt, CRC Press, 9780849391422, 1997
Handbook (Recommended) : Introduction to Polymers, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell, 3de, CRC Press, 9780849339295, 2011
Additional info

Partim 1: Synthesis and Structure of Peptides 

Course text (Required): Course text and lecture notes 
Handbook (Recommended) : An introduction to peptide chemistry, P.D. Bailey, Wiley, 9780471935322, 1991; Handbook (Recommended) : Amino acid and peptide synthesis, John Jones, 2de, Oxford chemistry primers, 9780199257386, 2002; Chemistry of Peptide Synthesis, N. Leo Benoiton. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, FL. 2006; Synthesis of Peptides and Peptidomimetics, Ed. M. Goodman, Houben-Weyl Methods of Organic Synthesis, vol E 22, Thieme, Stuttgart 2002; Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Approach (Practical Approach Series), Ed.  W. C. Chan, Peter D. White, Oxford Univesity Press, 2000; Chemical Approaches to the Synthesis of Peptides and Proteins (New Directions in Organic & Biological Chemistry), Paul Lloyd-Williams, Fernando Albericio, Ernest Giralt, CRC Press 1997.  

Partim 3: Synthesis and properties of synthetic polymers 

Course text (Required): Course text and lecture notes 
Handbook (Recommended): Introduction to Polymers, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell, Third edition, Chapman & Hall 

Learning Outcomes

general competencies

Partim 1: Synthesis and Structure of Peptides 

The student knows how to design and synthesize a peptide; possesses insights on the conformation adopted by small peptides; possesses knowledge of recent research and industrial developments in the peptide field. 

Partim 3: Synthesis and properties of synthetic polymers 

The student knows the different polymerization mechanisms used in polymer science; possesses knowledge on important factors that influence these mechanisms; possesses insight on the polymerization-properties relationships and polymer properties in general 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral exam with written prepara with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Partim 1: Synthesis and Structure of Peptides 

Oral exam with written preparation (100%). The student has to present a scientific publication (prepared in advance) on peptide synthesis, propose a strategy for a virtual peptide synthesis and discuss all used methods. Finally, a specific conformational problem will be discussed. 

Partim 2: Oligonucleotides and oligosaccharides 

Oral exam with written preparation (100%). 

Partim 3: Synthesis and properties of synthetic polymers 

Oral exam with written preparation (100%). 

 

The overall score is the mean value of the partim subscores. A minimal score of 10/20 for each partim should be reached to pass for the entire course. If the student obtains at least half of the score for an individual part, partial marks are transferred to the second session and to the next academic year. Students may not relinquish partial marks. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
Master of Chemistry: Chemical Theory, (Bio)Molecular Design and Synthesis