PHRM 777 - Organic Chemistry of Medicinal Agents

Prerequisites, PHRM 501, PHRM 511, PHRM 531, PHRM 592, PHRM 622, PHRM 622L, PHRM 631, PHRM 641. As the authors of the required text for this course state, “The chemistry of carbon-based molecules-their structures, intermolecular interactions, and reactivity-underlies life as we know it and thus also the beneficial (and sometimes undesired) effects of the medicines we use.” As such, in this course students will explore the chemistry of carbon-based molecules that governs the effects of commonly used medicinal agents and organic chemistry as it relates to drug structure and action. Fundamentals of drug structure and binding will be covered, including: the nature of chemical bonds in drug structures; the types of non-covalent intermolecular interactions drugs form with their targets, and the 3D shapes and conformations of drug molecules. The chemical reactivity of drug molecules will also be covered, including: reactivity of some drugs toward their targets; metabolism of drugs; reactions catalyzed by enzymes that modify drugs or can be targeted by them. Illustrative examples of drug synthesis, action, or metabolism will be provided, as will case studies that emphasize and reinforce concepts introduced within the text. Letter grade. (Offered every trimester.) 1 credit