Programmed by : Suzanne Stevens
Subject Specialist : Dr Robert Watt

The program is intended for first year pharmacy degree students and covers basic stereochemistry using examples relevant to pharmacy. The user would be expected to have some background knowledge of chemistry and there is a very short activity providing some revision of the structure of carbon compounds. Most of the activities contain a quiz at the end and all contain questions posed in a variety of interactive ways to test the student as he/she progresses.

A screen from the package

Contents
The package is split into six subjects:

1.Revision Structure of Carbon Compounds Bond Lengths Bond Energies Bond Angles 2.Conformational Isomerism Ethane and Hydrocarbons Energy of Conformations Hydrogen Bonding Conformation in the Nucleic Acids 3.Geometric Isomerism Ethane Derivatives Relative Energy and Physical Properties Labels of Geometric Isomers E/Z

4.Optical Isomerism Asymmetric Carbon Compounds Properties of Optical Isomers Representation in Two Dimensions: Fisher Forms Labelling of optical Isomers R & S Compounds with more than one Asymmetric Carbon Atom 5.Structure Determination and Resolution Relative Configuration X-Ray Crystallography & Absolute Configuration Resolution of Enantiomers 6.Pharmaceutical Examples Pharmaceuticals Carbohydrates D & L Lactic Acid Amino Acids

1. Revision Structure of Carbon Compounds
   This subject is for revision of bond lengths, angles and energies

2. Conformational Isomerism
   This subject presents conformational analysis and staggered and eclipsed forms, together with their different energy values. Newman projections, steric hindrance and conformation of multiple bonds, rotation about the C-C bond and hydrogen bonding are covered.

3. Geometic Isomerism
   The student is introduced to cis- and trans- isomerism and there is an interactive test on whether certain compounds can exist as geometric isomers. E and Z labelling is covered and the chemical and physical properties of geometric isomers.

4. Optical Isomerism
   The student is introduced to the isomerism displayed by asymmetric carbon atoms, Fishcer notation and the representation of three dimensions as two. Formal priority rules and sequence order are explored and R/S labelling is introduced. Properties of optical isomers together with optical rotation are covered, and compounds with more than one asymmetric carbon and the D and L labelling method.

5. Structure Determination and Resolution
   This subject covers (i) D and L configuration, and the difference between 'D & L' and 'd & l'. (ii) the relationship between absolute and relative configuration, describing x--ray crystallography as a method for determining absolute configuration. (iii) Racemic mixtures and the separation of enantiomers.

6. Pharmaceutical Examples
   Amino acids, Lactic acid and Carbohydrates are discussed with reference to their configurations. The importance of the different properties in isomeric forms of some common pharmaceuticals are also examined.