Objectives

The course of Physical Methods in Organic Chemistry and Radiochemistry aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge of modern chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, commonly used in the study of organic molecules in research and control laboratories. The course also aims to provide the ability to identify the most suitable chromatographic techniques for solving real problems, and to understand UV, IR, MS and NMR spectra of organic molecules. The course provides students with basic knowledge on nuclear chemistry and radiopharmaceutical preparations. At the end of the course the student will acquire the skills to analyze in-depth NMR, IR and MS spectra, to derive from their combined analysis the structure of unknown compounds, and to predict the spectroscopic properties of new compounds.

1. Knowledge and understanding
Students successfully completing this course understand and master the fundamentals of modern chromatographic techniques: adsorption, partition, kinetic aspects, van Deemter equation, composition and morphology of stationary phases, simple structure-retention relationships, solute-stationary phase-mobile phase interactions. The students know and understand the fundamentals of spectroscopic techniques: interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, frequency, energy content, intensity of radiation, absorption, emission, scattering, excited states, quantization. The students know and understand the theoretical principles and practical applications of IR spectroscopy (harmonic and anharmonic oscillators, fundamental vibrations, overtone, combination bands, characteristic absorptions of the main functional groups), 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (nuclei in a magnetic field, resonance, relaxation processes, shielding and shielding constants, homo- and hetero-nuclear spin-coupling, Pople's spin notation systems, Karplus relation) and MS (ionization and fragmentation processes, analyzers). The students know and understand the theoretical principles and practical applications of instrumental hyphenated techniques (LC-MS). The students are able to understand how the spectral parameters can be influenced by the experimental conditions (physical state of the sample, concentration, solvent, temperature).

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Students successfully completing this course should be able to select the most suitable chromatographic technique according to the structure of the compounds to be analyzed and is able to describe the process underlying the choice of stationary phases, mobile phases and detectors. The student is able to control and optimize the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the chromatographic process and is able to apply the acquired knowledge to new problems typical of research or working contexts. The student is able to interpret IR, NMR, MS spectra of simple pure organic compounds, and is able to choose the spectroscopic technique or the combination of several techniques suitable for diverse structural investigations (control of the conversion of functional groups, identification of impurities, ). The student is able to apply the known instrumental techniques to new problems that may arise in research or work areas.

3. Making judgement
Students successfully completing this course should be able to integrate the knowledge acquired during the course with those of the physical-organic chemistry that characterizes the Degree Course in CTF (study of equilibrium, reaction speed, reaction mechanisms, study of intermediates, selectivity, stereochemistry ). The student will be able to acquire data from databases and interpret multispectral data useful for solving typical problems in research and production areas such as synthesis laboratories, quality control of active ingredients, laboratories for the analysis of products of natural origin, complex mixtures of metabolites. These skills are stimulated and developed typically during exercises of interpretation of spectra, during lectures and exercises.

4. Communication
Students successfully completing this course will be able to communicate what has been learned in a clear and rigorous manner, both to non-expert interlocutors and to experts in the field. The student is stimulated to interpersonal communication typically during classroom exercises.

5. Learning skills
Students successfully completing this course should have developed autonomous learning abilities related to chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques through the consultation of databases, bibliographic material and scientific literature available on-line.

Channels

GIULIA DE PETRIS GIULIA DE PETRIS   Teacher profile

Programme

Module 2: Mass Spectrometry and Radiochemistry (3CFU CHIM/03)
An Introduction to Mass Spectrometry: general aspects.
Fundamental parts of a mass spectrometer: Ion Sources (EI, CI, ESI, API, FI, MALDI), Mass Analysers (magnetic and electrostatic sectors, double-focusing mass spectrometers, quadrupole, Time of Flight). The mass spectrum. Primary and secondary processes. Resolution and measurement of the molecular weight.(5 h)
The chemical ionization and some applications: the measurement of the proton affinity and reaction mechanisms studies. (4 h)
Diagnostic techniques for the study of the structure of ionic species, MIKE and CAD. The study of intermediates. Methods for the study of neutral and readical species. (3 h)
Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochemistry.
Atomic and mass numbers. Mass defeat and binding energy. The stability of the nucleus. The equation of Weiszacker. (2 h)
Spontaneous processes: the b- decay, alfa decay and the enrgy associated with the process, the b+ decay, electron capture, internal conversion, gamma emission. The decay law and the half lifetime. (4 h)
Nuclear Reactions. Raections indeced by protons, deuterons, alfa particles and neutrons. The energy of the nuclear reactions. The 238U decay and 235U fission. (3 h)
Detection and measurements of nuclear radiation. Analytical methods: the istopic dilution and inverse dilution. Activation analysis. The Libby and U-Th-He methods to date samples. Notes about the PET analysis.(3 h)

Adopted texts

Suggested textbook for mass spectrometry lessons:

1) Textbook:“Identificazione spettroscopica di composti organici” R.M. Silverstein, F.X. Webster Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
2) E. De Hoffmann, J. Charette, V. Stroobant "Mass Spectrometry Principles and Applications" John Wiley & Sons
3) Alison E. Ashcroft "Ionization Methods in Organic Mass Spectrometry" RSC

Suggested textbook for radiochemistry lessons:

F. Cacace “Principi di Chimica Nucleare e Radiochimica”.


Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of General Chemistry

Exam modes

The assessment takes place at the end of the course by a an oral test, aimed at verifying the general knowledge acquired.

Other elements such as the language, the critical capacity, the ability to make connections concur to determine the final vote in its graduality.

To pass the exam one needs to achieve a score of at least 18/30. The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired sufficient knowledge of the topics covered.
To achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, the student must demonstrate an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course, being able to link them in a logical and consistent way.

Course sheet
  • Academic year: 2021/2022
  • Curriculum: Curriculum unico
  • Year: First year
  • Semester: First semester
  • Parent course:
    1041402 - PHYSICAL METHODS IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND RADIOCHEMISTRY
  • SSD: CHIM/03
  • CFU: 3
Activities
  • Attività formative caratterizzanti
  • Ambito disciplinare: Discipline di base applicate alle biotecnologie
  • Lecture (Hours): 24
  • CFU: 3
  • SSD: CHIM/03