Free Radicals in Chemistry and Biology

Graduate

This is an advanced level course that covers the principle of radical generation and stabilization, and the foundations of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for studying and characterizing free radicals. Experimental data, such as EPR spectra, will be used to probe the electronic structure of 250 Winter 2027 Academic Calendar free radicals as well as provide local information on the coordination geometry for metal complexes including metallo-enzymes. A range of free radical reaction mechanisms will be surveyed, incorporating radical recombination reactions, radical abstraction reactions, radical addition reactions and radical rearrangements. These will be exemplified by important chemical processes as well as examples drawn from biology including lipid peroxidation, lignin synthesis and metallo-enzyme chemistry. (May be offered as a cross-career course with CHEM-4520).