2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Advanced Molecular Catalyst Chemistry I
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Yumiko Nakajima
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Thu (S3-206(S323))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.A427
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Sep 11, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This lecture explains the fundamental knowledge required for analyzing the mechanisms of catalytic reactions and its applications in complex catalyst chemistry.
By understanding catalytic reactions from a microscopic perspective, students can learn techniques for controlling reaction rates and selectivity. Furthermore, understanding the intrinsic properties and characteristics of the elements constituting catalysts is essential for designing catalytic reactions. This lecture aims to provide fundamental knowledge governing organic reactions, along with an understanding of the properties and diversity of transition metal complex catalysts and organic main-group compounds, and how these factors determine the characteristics of catalytic reactions.
Course description and aims
By completing this course, students will acquire the following abilities:
1) Understand the overall concept of catalytic reactions.
2) Explain how the properties and functions of complexes determine the nature of catalytic reactions.
Keywords
Reaction Mechanism, Kinetics, Organometallic Compounds, Metal Complex, Molecular Catalysts
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course covers methods for analyzing organic reaction mechanisms and advances understanding of industrially important catalytic reactions using molecular catalysts. We will gain a detailed understanding of reaction mechanisms as well as their historical development. Additionally, the latest catalytic reactions will be introduced. Finally, exercises and explanations will be provided to assess comprehension.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Organic Reaction 1 (Reaction Kinetics and Isotope Effect on Reaction Rates) |
Be able to explain the fundamentals of reaction kinetics and the related methods for mechanism analysis. |
| Class 2 | Organic Reaction II (Substituent Effects, Solvent Effects, Reaction Field) |
Be able to explain factors such as substituents on substrates, solvents, and reaction environment that influence the reaction |
| Class 3 | Elemental reactions of organometallic complexes |
Be able to explain the fundamental reactivity of organometallic complexes |
| Class 4 | Catalytic reactions of organometallic complexes |
Be able to explain the mechanism of the organometallic complex catalyst reactions. |
| Class 5 | Main Group Element Chemistry (Li, Mg, Si, etc.) |
Be able to explain the fundamental properties and reactivity of organic compounds of typical elements. |
| Class 6 | Rare Earth Metal Complex Chemistry (Lewis Acidity, Lanthanide Shrinkage, Catalytic Reactions) |
Be able to explain the fundamental properties and reactivity of rare earth metal complexes. |
| Class 7 | Exam |
Accurately understand the content of Lectures 1 through 6 and be able to solve the exercise problems. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
DAIGAKUIN KOUGI YUUKI KAGAKU I (TOKYO KAGAKU DOJIN)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Organotransition Metal Chemistry From Bonding to Catalysis, University Science Book
Evaluation methods and criteria
Final exam (70%), class participation (30%) (Class participation will be calculated based on quizzes during class, etc.)
Related courses
- CAP.A561 ： Advanced Chemistry of Transition Metal Complexes I
- CAP.I403 ： Advanced Coordination Chemistry
- CAP.A464 ： Advanced Molecular Design of Metal Complexes II
- CAP.A562 ： Advanced Chemistry of Transition Metal Complexes II
- CAP.A463 ： Advanced Molecular Design of Metal Complexes I
Prerequisites
none
Office hours
contact by eimail in advance