Monsanto's highly successful synthesis of acetic acid from methanol and carbon monoxide illustrates use of new starting materials to replace pretroleum-derived ethylene. Outlines the fundamental aspects of the acetic acid process and suggests ways of extending the synthesis to higher carboxylic acids. (JN)

Reports results in the attempted synthesis of the ethyl ester hydrochlorides of 21 common L-amino acids. Procedures used in the synthesis are outlined. (JN)

Background information and experimental procedures are provided for the multistep synthesis of frontalin. The experiment exposes students to a range of practical laboratory problems and important synthetic reactions and provides experiences in working on a medium-size, as well as a relatively small-size scale. (JN)

Describes a series of experiments (requiring six hours/week for six to eight weeks) involving the synthesis and methanolysis of substituted benzyl tosylates. The experiments provide students with experiences in kinetic data manipulation and an introduction and firm basis for structure-activity relationships and solvent effects in organic…

Discusses a graphical procedure which allows the distribution constant of iodine to be determined simultaneously with the trihalide anion stability constant. In addition, the procedure extends the experimental chemistry from distribution equilibria to important thermodynamic and bonding features. Advantages of using the procedure are also…

Background information and procedures used are provided for the synthesis of 4,5-diphenyl-methylimidazole. This experiment on the chemistry of heterocycles is ideally suited for beginning undergraduate organic chemistry students. (JN)

Describes an experiment involving use of a microemulsion and its characteristic thermal phase change to determine molecular weights of polyoxyethylene samples. The experiment provides students with background information on polymers and organized media and with experience in evaluating polymer molecular weight by using a unique property of a…

Describes a convenient procedure, the Odd-Even Rule, for predicting the allowedness of forbiddenness of ground-state, pericyclic reactions. The rule is applied to a number of specific reactions. In contrast to the Woodward-Hoffman approach, the application to each reaction is always the same. (JN)

Because the names, interrelations, and oxidation levels of the organic compounds of phosphorus and sulfur tend to confuse students, a simple way to organize these compounds has been developed. The system consists of grouping them by oxidation state and extent of carbon substitution. (JN)

Background information, experimental procedures used, and typical results obtained are provided for an experiment that demonstrates the stereospecific arrangement of cyclopropyl halides to allylic halides. (JN)

Describes the use of phase transfer conditions to prepare a sulfur and phosphorus ylide. Background information and procedures are provided for the experiment (which can be completed in one three-hour laboratory period). (JN)

Although it is a major synthetic reaction, the Wittig reaction has not been used in undergraduate laboratories due to the potential hazard and difficulty associated with the preparation/use of the strong bases needed to generate the required ylides. Procedures are presented for an experiment in which these difficulties are avoided. (JN)

Describes a procedure for determining ethane-1,2-diamine (EN) which is generally applicable for inert or labile complexes or for EN in its salts, although it cannot be used directly with ammonium or coordinated ammonia. It gives results with five percent accuracy or better and requires less than one hour laboratory time. (JN)

Suggests that the preparation of 2-bromopentane from 2-pentanol might represent an instructive addition to a published description of pheromone synthesis in that it is economical, extends the synthetic nature of the problem, and amplifies the mechanistic vagaries of the substitution reaction. Theory, procedures used, and safety considerations are…

Literature on analytical methods related to the functional groups of 17 chemical compounds is reviewed. These compounds include acids, acid azides, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, amino acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, carbodiimides, carbohydrates, ethers, nitro compounds, nitrosamines, organometallic compounds, peroxides, phenols, silicon compounds,…