In this second-semester organic chemistry lab experiment, students work collaboratively using a combination of chemical synthesis and NMR spectroscopy to investigate the diastereoselectivity associated with the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction of two ketone substrates having carbonyl groups flanked by an [alpha]-chiral carbon with…

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the gut as a result of microbial action on ingested dietary fiber and have been associated with several health benefits. Herein an undergraduate student experiment that uses gas chromatography equipped with either a flame ionization detector or mass spectrometer for the analysis and quantitation of…

NMR prediction using ChemDoodle, NMR calculation with Gaussian, and hands-on data collection using a benchtop NMR spectrometer were explored to assess their synergistic capacity in teaching NMR to organic chemistry students. Nine molecules representing functional groups commonly encountered in undergraduate organic chemistry were selected. Spectra…

We describe a three-day advanced organic laboratory experience that includes the solid-phase synthesis of an unknown three amino acid polypeptide for junior/senior undergraduate chemistry majors. Students conduct a series of 1D and 2D NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY) and analyze the data to identify the side chain residues of the peptide and…

In this laboratory teaching experiment, commercial cannabis oils were analyzed by undergraduate organic chemistry students using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate three isomeric cannabinoids commonly found in cannabis products: cannabidiol (CBD), [delta][superscript 9]-tetrahydrocannabinol ([delta][superscript 9]-THC),…

Molecular imprinting technology holds significant potential for applications in chemical analysis and detection. In order to integrate the fundamental knowledge of polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, and analytical chemistry with practical applications and cutting-edge research, we proposed a comprehensive experiment of the preparation,…

The flue gas from waste incineration power plants contains high-level zinc species that may deactivate the catalyst for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NO[subscript x]) with NH[subscript 3]. A comparison experiment was designed to investigate the effect of different types and Zn/Ce molar ratios on the performance of…

In this laboratory experiment, first-semester organic chemistry students use mechanistic reasoning to propose possible outcomes for the reaction of vanillin isobutyrate with a hydride source. The students subsequently run the reaction, isolate the product, and acquire its infrared spectrum. The experiment provides students with the opportunity to…

In this paper, we present a concise and technique-heavy route to the synthesis of dimedone for a second-year organic chemistry curriculum. Our preparation of dimedone guides students through a Michael addition followed by a Dieckmann cyclization, basic ester hydrolysis, and thermal decarboxylation, while allowing time for mechanistic discussion…

The synthesis of a [2]rotaxane through three- or five-component coupling reactions has been adapted to an organic chemistry experiment for upper-division students. The experimental procedure addresses the search for the most favorable reaction conditions for the synthesis of the interlocked compound, which is obtained in a yield of up to 71%.…

An understanding of basic organic chemical reactivity is key for many biosciences students. The reactivities of different carbonyl groups affect their function in many biomolecules. A practical class, the two-step synthesis of paracetamol, has been devised to illustrate the electrophilic reactivities of carbonyls, which was covered in the…

Elemental analysis is performed in a variety of ways in food and environmental sciences; thus, we have designed an activity in which students gain experience with research-level lab techniques in a real-world context through the quantification of key elements in breakfast cereals using microwave plasma optical emission spectroscopy (MP-OES). The…

In an upper-division interdisciplinary laboratory experiment, students use Raman spectroscopy to highlight how the overall structure and conformational order of lipid bilayers can be influenced by their individual phospholipid composition. Students prepare a supported lipid bilayer, as a model cell membrane, by spreading liposomes made of various…

This communication describes an updated experiment of peptide synthesis, involving determination of the loading capacity of a Fmoc-protected amino functionalized resin using UV-vis spectroscopy and a subsequent synthesis of a dipeptide in order to exemplify the experimental solid-phase synthesis procedure as an alternative technique in organic…

Cycloadditions in combination with multicomponent reactions are among the most valuable synthetic tools used by organic chemists to construct cyclic and heterocyclic compounds in a straightforward way. Although cycloadditions, such as the Diels--Alder reaction, are mainly covered in basic and advanced organic courses for undergraduate students,…