NKEK26000U Transition-Metal Catalysis: Sustainable Synthetic Chemistry

Volume 2026/2027
Content

The goal of organic synthesis is to efficiently create valuable and interesting molecules sustainably. Towards this goal, modern research efforts seek to discover and invent powerful chemical reactions that make new bonds that are difficult or impossible to form using traditional methods.

This course will cover how metals can be used to perform such reactions. An emphasis will be made on the use of homogeneous complexes of late transition metals as catalysts. Basic concepts of organometallic reactivity will be introduced followed by a description of modern topics including but not limited to palladium-catalysed cross-coupling, asymmetric hydrogenation, and olefin metathesis.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:
Synthesis and reactivity of metal complexes towards organic moieties and ancillary ligands. Particular focus on late-transition-metal catalysts and commonly encountered transition-metal catalysed reactions, such as palladium-catalysed cross-coupling, asymmetric hydrogenation, and olefin metathesis.

 

Skills:
The student should be able to describe common catalytic cycles in transition-metal catalysis that are encountered in synthetic organic chemistry.

They should also be able to describe how ancillary ligands influence the metal catalyst in individual steps of these catalytic cycles.

Moreover, they should be able to describe off-cycle complexes or competing pathways that they may encounter when utilizing these reactions in organic synthesis.

 

Competences:
The student should be able to suggest a plausible catalytic cycle for a range of transition-metal catalysed reactions, and identify promising ligand candidates to promote a desired reaction.

  • Organotransition Metal Chemistry: From Bonding to Catalysis. John Hartwig, University Science Books, 2010.
  • The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals. Robert Crabtree, John Wiley & Sons, 2005.

Additional course material will be indicated on Absalon

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Basic competencies in physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, inorganic chemistry are necessary as well as intermediate competencies in organic chemistry and organic synthesis (equivalent to NKEB21000U Grundlæggende organisk kemi (KemiOrg))
The teaching is divided into lectures by the teacher, and exercises (solved in class and solved by the students at home – discussed on the class). Special topics and own experiences will be included when appropriate in the context
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 100
  • Theory exercises
  • 45
  • Project work
  • 30
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 minutes (no preparation time)
Examination prerequisites

Approval of 80% of homework assignments

Aid
No aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

Same as the ordinary exam.

 

Non-approved home assignments must be handed in no later than 3 weeks before the re-exam. 

Students must be informed no later than 2 weeks before the re-exam whether their assignments have been approved.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome