Animations of organic reactions for better visualization of reaction mechanisms

CHED 1581

Anamitro Banerjee, abanerjee@chem.und.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Abbott Hall Room 224F, 151 Cornell Street Stop 9024, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9024, Larry D. Louisiana II, Larry.louisiana@und.nodak.edu, Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Abbott Hall, Grand Forks, ND 58202, and Ronald Marsh, Department of Computer Science, University of North Dakota, Streibel Hall Room 201, 3950 Campus Road Stop 9015, Grand Forks, ND 58202.
3D manipulation of molecules and visualization of organic reaction mechanisms is key to the understanding of organic chemistry for undergraduate and graduate students. The use of a static arrow representing the flow of electrons fails to provide the visual tools that can help students understand the mechanism of organic reactions. With frequent use of PowerPoint and other computer based presentations, animations have become prevalent in scientific presentations; however this technology has been slow to make inroads in organic chemistry. We developed a software program that allows the user to draw mechanisms in a conventional format and generate an animated movie file representing electron flow. The movie file can then be embedded into PowerPoint presentations. Animation features include; bond forming/cleavage, translation, rotation (molecular and intra molecular) and commentary. Structure manipulations such as conversion of a 3D model to standard representations such as Newmann and Fischer Projections can also be generated as movie files.
 

Using Technology to Enhance Learning in Organic Chemistry
8:20 AM-11:15 AM, Thursday, April 10, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Melrose, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008