Course Offerings

The course will be an introduction into modern main group element research with special emphasis on synthetic methods, computational tools and unusual reactivity patterns. The chemistry of high oxidation states and halogen chemistry will be treated only superficially. Polar organometallic chemistry will be covered from a fundamental point of view (mechanisms, structure and bonding). Heteronuclear NMR methods of spin 1/2 and multipolar nuclei will be be covered from a synthetic standpoint. Important reagents in particular their advantages and hazards will receive special attention both from a practical and from a historical perspective.

F11 - ML - Denk, T 7:00-9:20pm

X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful local probe to explore the environment around atoms of a given nature, whatever their long-range structure (molecule, gas, liquid, amorphous or crystallized solid). Its principle is based on the extraction by a X-ray photon of a core electron from a given atom, this electron being allowed to probe the close environment, which results in variations in the X-ray absorption coefficient that depend on the local structure. This technique, using high flux white X-ray provided by synchrotron sources, is especially useful for the characterization of small entities as it can be encountered in catalytic materials, structure of amorphous materials, or determination of the local environment of a doping element or a heavy metal in organic molecules. This course intends to explain the theoretical bases of the X-ray absorption mechanism, and how it can be used for extracting electronic and structural informations. The actual analytical operation from data extraction to structural analysis, will be described with the help of computer-based calculation chain. Chapter I: EXAFS Theory; Chapter II: X-ray Absorption near the edge (XANES); Chapter III: Analysis of EXAFS spectra

F11 - ML - Prouzet, TTh 1:00-2:20pm (combined with undergraduate course)

To be provided

W12 - ML - Prouzet, TTh 1:00-2:20pm(combined with undergraduate course)

To be provided

W12 - ML - Soldatov, T 7:00-9:20pm (combined with undergraduate course)

To be provided

W12 - ML - Gorecki, W 7:00-9:20pm

Material to be covered will include separations in engineering and analytical processes, unit processes, sample preparation techniques, membrane separations, chromatographic techniques, physiochemical application of chromatography, electrophoresis techniques, capillary separations, detection methods, GC-MS, LC/MS, CE/MS, multidimensional separations, and flow field fractionation.

F11 - ML - Pawliszyn, M 7:00-9:20pm

This course covers the basics of biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and its application to protein structure determination

F11 - ml - Dieckmann, T 7:00-9:20pm

To be provided

W12 - ML - Palmer, TTh 8:30-9:50am Start Date 3 January 2012(combined with undergraduate course)

In the fall 2011 term the focus of the course will be electronic structure theory. The course will cover a description of the basic electronic structure problem introducing an atomic orbital basis set, Slater determinants and the Slater-Condon rules. Then we will cover Hartree-Fock theory in fair detail. We will move on to the technique of second quantization and discuss techniques to include electron correlation: Configuration Interaction, Coupled Cluster, methods for excited states. Second quantized methods, Wick’s theorem and (perhaps) diagrammatic techniques will be discussed. It is my intention that students will write their own (simple) programs to do actual calculations. The first half of the course will use the book “modern Quantum Chemistry” by Szabo and Ostlund. More reading material will be provided as the course continues. The course will have extensive assignments that will be graded. Students are encouraged to collaborate on assignments. There will not be a midterm or final exam.

F11 - ML - Nooijen, MWF 11:30-12:20pm (combined with undergraduate course)

To be provided

W12 - ml - Roy, TTh 1:00-2:20pm Start Date 3 January 2012 (combined with undergraduate course)

This course covers many advanced topics in the principle, fabrication, and applications of bioelectronics involving nanotechnology. The students will be introduced to the fundamental building blocks of bioelectronics, strategies for fabrication/organization of micro/nanostructures, and design/characterization of the bio-interfaces. Frontier research in the field of bioelectronics and applications (e.g. biosensors, implantables, cell culture analog, biological computers), especially advancements enabled by nanotechnology, will be reviewed at the conclusion.

F11 - ml - Tang, Th 7:00-9:20pm

To be provided

W12 - ml - Tang, Th 7:00-9:20pm

To be provided

W12 - ML - Radovanovic, Th 7:00-9:20pm Start Date 5 January 2012

Topics covered in this course include a basic background and review, analysis of 1D solution NMR spectra, the NMR experiment, special techniques, multi-dimensional NMR, effects of molecular dynamics, relaxation times, and solid state NMR.

F11 - ML - Penner, W 7:00-9:20pm

This course will familiarize students with some of the modern synthetic methods used in academia and industry for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds in organic compounds. An array of anionic, cationic, pericyclic, and organometallic methods will be introduced, namely condensations and alpha substitutions of carbonyl compounds, conjugate addition to a, ß -unsaturated carbonyl compounds, Friedel-Crafts alkylation/acylation reactions and related processes, pericyclic reactions (cycloadditions, electrocyclizations, and sigmatropic rearrangements), and organometallic-promoted reactions, with a particular attention to cross-coupling, and C-H functionalization reactions. The factors governing the mechanistic, stereochemical and regiochemical course of these processes will be presented and discussed for each method. For pericyclic reactions, the emphasis will be on how appreciation of the frontier molecular orbitals allows prediction regarding the reactivity of the system, as well as relative reaction rates, regiochemistry and stereochemistry. The importance of carbon-carbon bond forming processes in academia and industry will be illustrated by examples selected from the contemporary literature. An emphasis on natural and non-natural product total synthesis and retrosynthetic analysis will allow to broaden some fundamentals of modern synthetic organic chemistry, namely stereoselective synthesis in cyclic and acyclic systems, protective group, and reduction/oxidation strategies. Synthetic planning will be discussed in details along with some classic and modern total syntheses of natural products. The discussion of modern synthetic methods and applications will improve students understanding of fundamental organic reactions and strategies and add further principle and transformations to their knowledge foundation. Furthermore, it will develop independent and critical thinking about Organic Chemistry, and most importantly, the students will gain and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the structure of an organic molecule and its reactivity. By the end of the course, the student should be able to design a valid synthetic route to novel chemical structures from precursor molecules.

F11 - ML - Fillion, TTh 8:30-9:50am

To be provided

W12 - ML - Schwan, M 7:00-9:20pm

Basic definitions: Monomers, polymers, polymerization reactions. Polymer structure, nomenclature. Molecular weight distributions and average molecular weights; Molecular weight measurements: Colligative properties, osmometry, light scattering, viscosity, gel permeation chromatography; Step-growth polymerization. Types of reactions. Reactivity, kinetics. Molecular weight distribution and control, branching and cross-linking. Polymerization equilibria. Preparation of polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides; Radical chain polymerization. Types of reactions (bulk, solution and heterogeneous polymerizations). Polymerization kinetics and energetics, molecular weight distribution. Autoacceleration. Preparation of polyethylene, polystyrene, vinyl polymers; Emulsion polymerization. Initiators, surfactants and other components. Polymerization rate. Molecular weight and particle size distributions. Surfactant-free emulsion polymerization, core-shell polymers. Applications; Polymer isomerism and conformation. Dimensions of macromolecules: end-to-end distance, radius of gyration. Thermodynamic treatment of rubber elasticity.

F11 - Wat - Gauthier, CPH 3604 TTh 8:30-9:50am (combined with undergraduate course)

To be provided

W12 - Wat - Duhamel, C2-361 T 7:00-9:20pm Start Date 3 January 2012 (combined with undergraduate course)

A written literature review and research proposal on the chosen thesis topic will be presented and defended in a 30-minute public seminar. This requirement is to be completed by all M.Sc students completing their degree by thesis, within two terms of entering the program.

F11 - Gue - Penner
W12 - Gue - Penner
F11 - Wat - Power
W12 - Wat - Power

A public seminar on the chosen thesis topic to be given by all Ph.D. students in the regular program in the second term of entering the program. For Co-op Ph.D. students, this seminar is to be presented within six terms of their return from work year.

F11 - Gue - Penner
W12 - Gue - Penner
F11 - Wat - Supervisor
W12 - Wat - Supervisor

Ph.D. students are required to take an oral examination in their major field. The specific content and format are specified by a Centre Examining Committee. The examination must be first attempted no later than 6 weeks after presenting their 795 Ph.D. seminar. For Co-op Ph.D. students, the examination must be first attempted no later than 4 months after their return from work year.

F11 - W/G - Managed through the GWC² Director's office
W12 - W/G - Managed through the GWC² Director's office

A study of a selected topic in chemistry or biochemistry, by students in the part-time course-based M.Sc. option. The project must be an experimental one, completed by working for one term in the laboratory of a (GWC)2 faculty member. A written report is required, and a seminar based on the content of the report will be presented.

F11 - W/G - See your graduate officer
W12 - W/G - See your graduate officer

M.Sc. Thesis and Defense

F11 - W/G - See your graduate officer
W12 - W/G - See your graduate officer

Ph.D. Thesis and Defense

F11 - W/G - See your graduate officer
W12 - W/G - See your graduate officer