The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamental principles that underpin modern medicinal chemistry, including an introduction to targets for drug action, methods of administration, qualitative and quantitative SAR, computer aided molecular design, solid phase chemistry /combinatorial chemistry. The course will also introduce approaches to the design of high quality hits using parameters such as Ligand Efficiency, Lipophilic Ligand Efficiency, Property Forecast Indexing and will provide some introductory carbohydrate chemistry.

(LO1) By the end of this module students are expected to have acquired an understanding of
* the principle bonding interactions in drug receptor interactions.
* The basic concepts of structure activity relationships (SAR) and quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR)
* the principles behind computer aided molecular design and 3-D QSAR
* Peptide synthesis, protecting groups and combinatorial chemistry
* optimal properties of small molecule leads
* basic carbohydrate chemistry
and will be able to use these concepts and principles to solve simple problems in medicinal chemistry.

(S1) Students will develop their chemistry-related cognitive abilities and skills, ie abilities and skills relating to intellectual tasks, including problem-solving as required by the Chemistry subject benchmark statement. In particular, they will gain the ability to adapt and apply methodology to the solution of unfamiliar problems.

(S2) Communication skills through online Teams Meetings

(S3) Organisational skills

Lectures will be taught asynchronously via virtual learning environment (14 x 1h lectures), workshops (equivalent to 2 x 2h) and associated assignments. Assignments will be supported virtually (e.g. via MS Teams and email). Each lecture will have discussion points and questions which will be covered in sequential lectures

In summary:
14 asynchronous lectures
2 tutorials (2 hours in length),
2 feedback sessions (1 hour each, to provide students with answers to questions and provide discussion point

Lecture 1 Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry: Overview of Targets for Drug Action
Lecture 2 Methods of Administration: The Pharmaceutical Phase
Lecture 3 Structures of Proteins: Bonds/ Energies Involved in Drug Receptor Interactions
Lecture 4 Structure Activity Relationships (SAR I)
Lecture 5 (SARII): Fluorine Substitution in Medicinal Chemistry
Lecture 6 Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR)
Lecture 7 Computer Aided Molecular Design : 3D-QSAR
Lecture 8 Peptide Synthesis: Protecting Group Strategy in Synthesis
Lecture 9 Combinatorial Chemistry I
Lecture 10 Combinatorial Chemistry II
Lecture 11 Drug Design – Lipinski's Rules
Lecture 12 Drug Design – Ligand Efficiency and Lipophilic Ligand Efficiency
Lecture 13 Drug Design - Fragment Based Drug Discovery
Lecture 14 Carbohydrate Chemistry