Application of concepts presented in organic chemistry lecture using a virtual project involving the sythesis of medicinally important compounds is emphasized. The importance of reinforcing the concepts from lecture in lab, thus providing a powerful instructional means is discussed.

A molecule possessing other functional groups that could be hydrogenerated is examined, where a variety of metal catalysts are evaluated under similar reaction conditions. Optimizing organic reactions is both time and labor intensive, and the use of a combinatorial parallel synthesis reactor was great time saving device, as per summary.

Two Diels-Alder reactions are described that are suitable for a MORE (microwave-induced organic reaction enhanced) experiment in the organic chemistry laboratory course. A second experiment in which the splitting patterns of the vinyl protons in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of two MORE adducts are used in conjunction with molecular…

An experiment is described that introduces students to the concept of temperature-dependent stability of the tetrahedral intermediate in an acyl-transfer reaction. The process involves the determination of the structure of an alpha-ketoester and its corresponding remarkably stable enol ester to suggest a mechanism for the formation of the products.

The approaches of teaching organic (full year) and biochemistry courses in the United States colleges and universities are described. The revised courses are probably more useful and relevant for the students as they maintain and improve the education of chemistry majors.

A one-semester course is described which directly responds to the challenge that the scientific community addresses the question that the level of science literacy to the large number is small. It is designed for bright, highly motivated students who have only a basic high school background in chemistry and who have no plans for taking any more…

A simple and effective way of exposing chemistry students to some of the effects of scaling up an organic reaction is described. It gives the student an experience that may encounter in an industrial setting.

Using a statewide database of student records, the grades of students enrolled in organic chemistry and biochemistry at a large state university were analyzed to determine if there was a difference in performance between community college transfers and "native" students. Although only small differences were found for the organic chemistry…

The click chemistry uses only the most reliable reactions to build complex molecules from olefins, electrophiles and heteroatom linkers. A variation on Huisgen's azide-alkyne 1,2,3-triazole synthesis, the addition of the copper (I), the premium example of the click reaction, catalyst strongly activates terminal acetylenes towards the 1,3-dipole in…

Adaptive chemical behavior is essential for an organism's function and survival, and it is no surprise that biological systems are capable of responding both rapidly and selectively to chemical changes in the environment. To elucidate an organism's biochemistry, its chemical reactions need to be characterized in ways that reflect the normal…

Bioassays are commonly used to test the biological activity of chemicals and other exercises are presented in which students synthesize plant hormones. Lab exercise is conducted using commercially available auxins and auxin regulating compounds.

A survey of 22 popular organic chemistry textbooks showed that only four correctly stated that of the two components of starch, amylopectin is the water-soluble, and amylose is the water-insoluble. (MLH)

Presents an account of the life of Otto Diels and explains his research on the constitution of cholesterol, the Diels-Alder reaction, and synthesis of cantharadin. (GS)

A variety of equipment and instructional materials are briefly described. Included are slides, charts, transparencies, centrifuge, and a spectrometer. (GS)

Describes some functional group interconversions that can be carried out on a small scale. The reactions are examples of transformations found in A-level, ONC and HNC courses for British chemistry students. (Author/GS)