Experiments that explore quantum principles while utilizing and reinforcing previous synthesis skills are excellent for engaging students and promoting the interconnected nature of chemistry. This experiment utilizes sophomore-level organic synthesis techniques to have students produce their own "meso" substituted porphyrins. The UV-vis…

Synthesis of (Z)-alkenes is challenging because the (E) stereoisomers are usually more stable. Energy transfer photocatalysis has emerged as an efficient strategy for (E) [right arrow] (Z) alkene isomerization. We report the development of an advanced undergraduate laboratory experiment that introduces students to contemporary organic…

The addition of research-focused experiences to undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses has been shown to bolster student learning, enhance student retention in STEM, and improve student self-identity as scientists. In the area of synthetic organic chemistry, the preparation of libraries of compounds with novel optical and electronic properties…

Students may find poetry a surprisingly rich, engaging, and accessible vehicle to motivate and synthesize statistical content. We share and discuss a project and activities used in workshops or a college statistical literacy course.

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…

A comprehensive chemistry laboratory experiment, including the synthesis of Pt/Al[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] catalysts at different conditions, structure characterization, and the real-world application exploration, has been designed for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students as an expansion and improvement of the professional…

Nanozyme is a kind of mimetic enzyme possessing unique properties of nanomaterials and catalytic functions of natural enzymes. The nanozymes have the characteristics of high catalytic efficiency and good stability and are widely utilized in medicine, chemical industry, food, agriculture, and environment. This laboratory experiment is designed for…

This article provides background information about evidence synthesis, the process of collecting, evaluating, and summarizing results from multiple studies that have investigated the same research question. The article also examines the critical role of librarians in conducting evidence synthesis, and examines the accelerating uptake of systematic…

A discovery-based experiment for the synthesis of arylpropiolic acids via carboxylation of arylacetylenic Grignard reagents was developed. This experiment shows the "dual utility" of Grignard reagents. In the synthesis of arylpropiolic acids reported here, we have demonstrated the use of a Grignard reagent as a base in a "Grignard…

A one-pot multicomponent synthesis of unsymmetrical indole-substituted methane derivative based on two consecutive reactions of p-methylbenzaldehyde with N-methylindole and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione is described as an experiment that was carried out by second-year undergraduate chemistry students individually in a laboratory classroom. The…

Offering an advanced organic chemistry course at a primarily undergraduate institution poses a challenge of condensing graduate organic synthesis into one course. This course was designed so students choose and read recent total synthesis papers from the literature in lieu of relying on a textbook or other pre-existing course materials. Following…

Traditionally, civil engineering infrastructures have been represented through two-dimensional (2D) drawings, which can lead to interpretation errors and jeopardize engineers' understanding of complex projects. However, with the development of building information modeling (BIM) methodology, civil engineering projects can now be virtually modeled…

International teaching assistants (ITAs) have a prominent role in the internationalisation of higher education (IHE). Although ITAs are considered important actors in IHE and ITA programs have a relatively long history, there is a scarcity of review studies on empirical research focusing on ITAs. This qualitative metasynthesis explores the…

A multistep synthesis of a metal-free organic dye-sensitizer for solar cells was developed as a multifaceted research project for upper-division undergraduate students with a goal of introducing students to the application of organic synthesis in material science, and renewable energy research. The characterization of the dye is done by thin-layer…

Writing an argumentative synthesis is a common but demanding task, consequently undergraduates require some instruction. The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of two interventions on integrative argumentation: one of them was focused on the product features of argumentative texts; and the other one on the processes involved in…