CHED 407 |
| Research chemists are increasingly interested in using microwave radiation to heat chemical reactions in the laboratory. Irradiating reactions with microwaves has been shown to save time and resources (and improve yields)—in line with our desire to “green” the organic chemistry curriculum at Hood College. One experiment that we have “greened” using microwave radiation studies the selective oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde. Both the solvent requirement (40 mL before: none now) and the reaction time (2 hours before: 20 seconds now) have decreased, allowing the entire class to complete the reaction and the analysis by GC/MS in one lab period. We have also pursued the synthesis of a catalyst used in the creation of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor DPC 963, a current HIV-1 drug. Using microwave radiation, we successfully oxidized 3-carene to the epoxide in just 20 seconds, while obtaining yields comparable to the traditional heating method. We are continuing to investigate the use of microwaves in the total synthesis of this catalyst, with the intention of generating a multi-step synthesis project whose sole energy source is the microwave. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Chemical Education
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |