[NUS Module Review] CM4212: Advanced Organometallic Chemistry

(INTRODUCTION)

Hi Hi! Welcome to one of the first level 4k module review; CM4212 Advanced Organometallic Chemistry. If you're reading this, I would assume that you have completed CM3212 Transition Metal Chemistry (Module Review Here:https://theggdotcom.blogspot.com/2020/03/nus-module-review-cm3212-transition-metal-chemistry.html) as it is a prerequisite in order to take this module. Otherwise, the module could be summarised as to me, one of the best few modules I've taken in NUS so far. Without being completely biased, let's take a look at some of the reasons why I think this module is really one of the best modules I've taken so far.  

(LECTURERS)

Only one lecturer is here to take this module and his name is A/P Huynh Han Vinh. I have nothing but praises for A/P Huynh. At first impression, he looked really stern and perhaps not the most open and friendly guy you would have met when you first see him. But he is anything but those. His wealth of knowledge has been just overwhelming. And he backs it up with actual theories and facts that he taught himself, which can be used to analyse a certain compound of interest. He wrote textbooks like the one below:

"Han Vinh Huynh “The Organometallic Chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes”, 1st Ed., Wiley Interscience"

I do not get any credits nor ad fee for showcasing his textbook, but I feel like his efforts should be recognized here. He has his own website (www.carbene.de), which is probably doing better than my own blog website or YouTube channel anyways. And he shares his own experience as a young scientist, like our own many times during lessons in an attempt to actually connect to the students, something which MOST lecturers lack these days. Never forget, that every teacher was once a student and that building a connection with the students is one of the most important skill to possess in teaching.

(EXPANSION OF TOPICS COVERED)

The topics covered include:

• Organolithium
• Organomagnesium/Organozinc/Organomercury
• Organoboron/Organoaluminium
• Carbonyl Complexes
• Phosphine Complexes, TEP, TCA
• Olefin Complexes and Olefins as pi-acceptors
• Sigma-donor groups and its complexes
• Carbenes
• N-Heterocyclic Carbenes, HEP
• Catalysis

I think it is safe to say that for at least half the module, if you did pay attention to whatever was taught in CM1111, CM2111 and CM3212, most of the content taught here are largely doable and something which most of us have come across in the past. The Organo-series are nothing more than an expansion of what was taught in CM1111. This series focuses more on the characteristics of the complexes, the type of reaction they can undergo and its mechanisms. The topic on Phosphine complexes, TEP and TCA are similar to those taught in CM2111. Catalysis are pretty much understanding how good catalysed reactions are.

(PASSING THE ASSESSMENT)

The grading for the assessments in this module are as follows:

• CAs - 30% x 2 = 60%
• Literature Report - 30%
• Quiz - 10%

Yes, you did not read it wrongly. NO FINALS!!! At first when I saw NUSMODS showing CM4212 as a no-final module, I was like really? Could it be a typo or something, but nope. Turns out that A/P Vinh opted for this module to have no finals. On hindsight, the CAs probably acted as a final by itself, but it was placed and tested in a way that it didn't feel like a final. This allowed me to actually appreciate the module even more.

The CAs will cover a section of topics tested; with the first test covering the main group elements while the second test covering the various ligand complexes (Carbonyls, Olefins, Phosphines, Carbenes and Catalysis). Pretty easy to do in my opinion and the concepts are heavily tested in the form of applications, so memorizing doesn't go well here. As for the quiz, it will just be mainly focused on NHC and HEP. 10 questions that are pretty straightforward to do. But the one that I think makes or breaks everything is the literature report. Essentially, you are required to find a paper and critique it using only 3000 words. Not to worry because you can do this in pairs, but damn, finding a paper is hard and understanding it is even harder so good luck with this.

(SCHEDULE)

Similar to all Chemistry modules, there will be two two-hour lectures per week. A/P Vinh will always stop at the 1.5 hour mark so not to worry about getting to your next lesson. There will also be a one-hour tutorial per week, in which A/P Vinh will ask students for their answers and to discuss certain ideas.

(EXPERIENCE AND FINAL GRADING)

Taking this module was a no-brainer move. If you took CM3212 before, this was the next obvious module to take. And since this module had no finals, why not right? Looking at the 300+ page notes that this module have, you would think that this is gonna be a rough ride, but apparently, it was a much easier ride than I thought it would be. Main group elements were just an expansion of CM1111, while phosphine groups were an expansion of CM2111. Carbonyls and Olefins were just about as easy as understanding phosphine groups. Catalysis was basic and simple to understand. The only one that could be difficult in understanding was the NHC and HEP, and even so, it was not that difficult either.

So seeing all these chapters during the first lesson gave me a feeling of "I can do this!". Plus, what was more amazing was the fact that A/P Vinh was the one that came up with HEP. Yes, in case you were wondering what HEP stands for, here's a hint; if TEP stands for Tolman Electronic Parameters, then what about HEP? But I'll save this part for later.

Each and every single lesson was not content heavy at all. For someone with a really short attention span, I think that every lesson felt rather light despite the lesson going at a pretty rapid pace. Everything was taught in detail and nothing was left out. Since most of it was just gonna be a recap, it was simple to understand. The first CA covered a lot of conceptual ideas that memorizing didn't benefit much. If you think you know everything about sterics and electronic effects, this test will shock you badly because many people didn't fully grasp the applications on it and thus suffered as a whole.

A/P Vinh managed to finish the syllabus before the shutdown of the campus happened due to COVID-19. So I was thankful to have face-to-face lectures throughout. One point to highlight was him teaching the HEP; a theory essentially discovered by his team. Certainly not the easiest of concepts to know, but it offers a different dimension to the TEP. In three years of studying chemistry in NUS, no professor has yet to actually teach us concepts or theories that they came up with themselves until A/P Vinh. You can really feel the passion in his eyes and voice when he talks about the theory of HEP or when he talks about life in the lab. The passion is seriously unreal and unmatched.

Okay, back to the module. The second CA was done online due to COVID-19. It was initially meant to be a written test where we would probably get asked about Fischer's, Schrock Carbenes and their equations. However, due to it being an online exam, the test was converted into a MCQ quiz that tested a lot of electron counting. Maybe it was a blessing, and maybe it wasn't. But the test was difficult and rigorous but ultimately, doable. The 10% online quiz was also largely doable as well. Felt that I shouldn't have studied so hard for it in the end because it was that easy. But oh wells, better to study more than less right?

Oh, and last but not least, there is the literature report. To be honest, when I heard that there was a literature report to do, and that it was meant to be done in pairs, I nearly cried haha, mainly because I took this module without anyone I know and that I'd be doomed in working alone. Luckily, I befriended a Japanese student who was in NUS for just this semester and we agreed to do the project together. However, he was recalled back to Japan pretty early due to COVID-19 and for a moment, I thought I was back to being screwed in not having a partner. Thankfully, he contacted me at the last minute to do the literature review with me. And because of his last minute help, I managed to pull through and do pretty well in it. So if you're reading this Riku (probably not, but...), thanks for all the help! Couldn't have done it as good without you. Haha!

(CONCLUSION AND TIPS)

If you took CM3212, this is not a module to miss because this module is arguably much easier than CM3212. As a whole, I think that the contents were largely manageable as they were things that were taught before. While the assignments and tests were difficult, they were also easily doable. Prof Vinh is also a really good at teaching this module and having the privilege to take a module that is his area of expertise and research is seriously an opportunity not to be missed. 

Ratings out of 5⭐:

• Should you take this module - Highly encourage to take this module if you did take CM3212
• Degree of Difficulty - ⭐⭐
• Effort Required - ⭐⭐⭐
• Timetable Impact - ⭐⭐

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