34 graduate courses in the Fall 2026 Graduate Calendar.
Discussion of specialized topics related to the research interests of members of the Centre. Special topics could include, for example, bioinorganic chemistry; inorganic reaction mechanisms; synthetic methods in inorganic and organometallic chemistry; homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis; chemistry of polynuclear compounds.
Introduction: crystals, basic concepts; space groups; the reciprocal lattice; x-ray diffraction; the phase problem; structure factors; electron density; small molecule structure solution, structure refinement, structure results, journals and data bases, paper writing.
Introduction to solid state chemistry, common crystal structures, principles of solid state synthesis, theory and experimental methods for characterizing solids, including thermal analysis techniques, powder x-ray and neutron diffraction methods; special topics to include one or more of the optical, electronic, magnetic, or conductive properties of inorganic materials.
Free electron, Hueckel and extended Hueckel methods for molecules and clusters. Perturbation theory. Applications of group theory in inorganic chemistry; Jahn-Teller effects in molecular and solids. Energy bands in one, two and three dimensions.
Magnetochemistry of transition metal compounds. Electronic spectra of complex ions including applications of molecular orbital and ligand field theories. Stabilization of unusual oxidation states and coordination numbers. Bonding, structure and reactivity of certain important classes of metal complexes, e.g. metal hydrides, metal-metal bonded species, biologically-significant model systems such as macrocycles.
Reactions, structure and bonding of organometallic compounds of transition and non-transition metals.
Special topics could include for example: trace analysis using modern instrumental and spectroscopic methods; advanced mass spectrometry (instrumentation and interpretation of spectra); analytical aspects of gas and liquid chromatography.
Instrumental components and optimum application; rudiments of design; electrical, spectral, migrational and other methods.
Atomic emission and absorption spectroscopy; methods of excitation and detection; quantitative applications. Molecular electronic spectroscopy: UV, visible and Raman; instrumental characteristics; applications to quantitative determinations, speciation, measurements of equilibrium, etc. Sources and control of errors and interferences. Determination and description of colour.
Material to be covered will be drawn from the following topics: Diffusion; Isolation of organic material from the matrix; Chromatographic techniques - principles of chromatographic separations; Gas (GLC, GSC), Liquid (LLC, LSC, GPC, IEC), Supercritical Fluid (SFC) Chromatographies; GC-MS, GC-FTIR; Electrophoresis; Flow field fractionation.
A study of electroanalytical techniques and their role in modern analytical chemistry. The underlying principles will be developed. Techniques will include chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry, polarography, voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, coulometric titrations, flow techniques, electrochemical sensors and chemically modified electrodes.
Modern surface analysis: description and importance of surfaces. Surface area determinations. High surface area solids, supports. Scanning electron microscopy: principles and applications. Auger electron spectroscopy. Applications in metallurgy and materials science. Depth profiling. ESCA: elemental compositions and studies of catalyst surfaces. SIMS. Infrared spectroscopy. Studies of supported metal and metal oxides. Acid surface sites and their role in catalysis. Scanning tunnelling microscopy; theory and applications. Single crystal surfaces. LEED. Studies of chemisorption.
Protein structure and function; intermolecular interactions and protein-protein association. Nucleic acid and DNA structure; protein-nucleic acid interactions.
Discussion of specialized topics related to the research interests of the members of the Centre. For example, recent offerings have included: Metalloproteins and Metalloenzymes; Heme Proteins; Chemistry of Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms; Peptides - Synthesis, Structure and Function; Food Enzymology; Advanced Microbial Physicology; NMR in Biological Systems.
Regulation of replication, transcription, translation, RNA processing, and protein degradation. Cell cycle and control of cell division.
Discussion of the underlying factors contributing to enzyme, abzyme and ribozyme catalysis.
Structure, function and dynamics of membrane lipids and proteins. Membrane transport. Biogenesis and trafficking of membrane proteins. Signal transduction.
Discussion of specialized topics related to the research interests of the members of the Centre. Special topics could include for example: theory of intermolecular forces; density matrices; configuration interaction; correlation energies of open and closed shell systems; kinetic theory and gas transport properties; theory of the chemical bond.
Review of classical and quantum mechanics; principles of statistical mechanics; applications to systems of interacting molecules; imperfect gases, liquids, solids, surfaces and solutions.
Approximate solutions of the Schrodinger equation and calculations of atomic and molecular properties.
Discussion of specialized topics related to the research interests of members of the Centre. Special topics could include for example: principles of magnetic resonance in biological systems; collisions, spectroscopy and intermolecular forces, surface chemistry; catalysis; electrolyte theory; non-electrolyte solution theory; thermodynamics of biological systems; thermodynamics.
Empirical analysis. Kinetic theory of gases. Potential energy surfaces. Unimolecular rates. Relaxation and steady state methods. Diffusion rates. Rates between polar molecules. Energy transfer.
Aspects of electronic vibrational and rotational spectroscopy of atoms, molecules, and the solid state. Relevant aspects of quantum mechanics, Dirac notation, and angular momentum will be discussed. Group Theory will be presented and its implications for spectroscopy introduced.
Two or three topics from a range including: bio-organic chemistry; environmental organic chemistry; free radicals; heterocyclic molecules; molecular rearrangements; organometallic chemistry; photochemistry; natural products.
Named organic reactions and other synthetically useful reactions will be discussed. The mechanism, stereochemical implications and use in organic synthesis of these rections will be presented. Examples from the organic literature will be used to illustrate these aspects.
The synthesis of organic compounds is discussed and emphasis is placed on the design of synthetic routes. Examples drawn from the literature are used to illustrate this synthetic planning.
Ultraviolet, infrared, resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, with emphasis on applications to studies of organic molecules.
Linear free energy relationships; substituent effects and reactive intermediates.
Introduction to the physical chemistry of high polymers, principles of polymer synthesis, mechanisms and kinetics of polymerization reactions, copolymerization theory, polymerization in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, chemical reactions of polymers. Theory and experimental methods for the molecular characterization of polymers.
The physical properties of polymers are considered in depth from a molecular viewpoint. Rubber elasticity, mechanical properties, rheology and solution behaviour are quantitatively treated.
The reactions leading to the production of polymers are considered with emphasis on emulsion and suspension polymerization and polymerization reaction engineering. Polymer degradation, stabilization and modification are also considered in depth.
Discussion of specialized topics of polymer chemistry related to the research interests of the faculty or prominent scientific visitors. Special topics could include, for example, polymer stabilization and degradation; mechanical properties; polymer principles in surface coatings; organic chemistry of synthetic high polymers; estimation of polymer properties; reactions of polymers; polymerization kinetics.
Students will prepare a written literature review. Incoming MSc students are strongly encouraged to take this required course within the first term of their program.
A public seminar and defence of a research proposal, to be given by all MSc students within two terms of entering this program.