Investigating the hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes and related compounds

CHED 588

Kayla J. Temple, mrailing@wju.edu and Mary Railing, mrailing@wju.edu. Department of Chemistry, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003
The purpose of this project is to measure the heats of hydrogenation for a variety of unsaturated aldehydes. Enthalpy and direct calorimetric measurements will be performed on (E)-2-nonenal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, and (E)-2-heptenal. The empirical data from this investigation will be compared to theoretical data. The results will also be compared to a computational study of the energetics of hydrogenation of aldehydes with a collaborative group at another university. The study will be expanded by modifying the carbonyl function via reduction, oxidation, and amination. The changes in the heats of hydrogenation of these modifications will be related to theoretical values.