Chemistry Year 12 Enrichment Programme

This course is now fully booked for 2022.

The STEM partnerships team at St Paul’s holds a range of workshops, lectures and extracurricular courses throughout the academic year primarily aimed at students in years 10 and 12.

All students from our maintained sector partner schools are welcome to apply for these courses and attend for free, although a small deposit may be requested which is refundable upon the student completing the course.

Course Information

This is a 4 week course hosted over 4 consecutive Saturdays (26 Feb, 5 March, 12 March and 19 March). The aim of this course is to provide keen and talented scientists with the opportunity to undertake substantial, undergraduate-level organic syntheses. This is a great chance for students to get ‘hands-on’ with equipment and chemicals, as well as learning sophisticated practical techniques and organic reactions, and will be invaluable experience for those considering chemistry and related degrees. With the teaching expertise and laboratory facilities available at St Paul’s, participants will cover:

SESSION 1: SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2021

Reduction of a carbonyl compound and Infra-Red spectroscopy

SESSION 2: SATURDAY 5 MARCH

The Wittig reaction

Start copper coupling reaction

SESSION 3: SATURDAY 12 MARCH

Finish copper coupling reaction

The Aldol reaction

Mechanisms: borohydride reduction, Wittig reaction and Aldol reaction

SESSION 4: SATURDAY 19 MARCH

Purification of cholesterol via bromination and debromination

Mechanisms of the alkene bromination and cyclic bromonium ion

Timings

Please arrive at 9.15am to register for a prompt start.

All sessions run from 9.30am – 12.20pm with a short break halfway through the morning.