Welcome to our Lab category, a haven for scientific exploration and experimentation. Step into the world of hands-on discovery where theory meets practice. Unleash your curiosity as we delve into laboratory techniques, equipment, safety protocols, and experimental procedures. From conducting chemical analyses to synthesizing compounds, this category provides valuable insights and resources to enhance your laboratory skills. Immerse yourself in the exciting realm of scientific investigation and unlock the wonders of the lab today.
Objective To perform a tandem aldol condensation / Michael addition reaction using an organocatalyst and to learn how to recover the organocatalyst. Background Organocatalysts are small organic molecules that can catalyze reactions in the absence of metals or metal ions. Proline is a chiral organic compound that can be used as a catalyst in many reactions … Read more
Objective Synthesis of a bulk chemical (p-cymene) from a renewable feedstock (limonene). Background D-Limonene is the major constituent of citrus peel oils (90–95 %). Some 50,000 tons of limonene are produced annually by the citrus industry, this being an available renewable feedstock that can be used as the starting material for preparing several products and … Read more
Objective To performe a stereoselective reduction of a carbonyl compound with a biological reagent to obtain chiral ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate. Background The reduction of ethyl acetoacetate using common baker’s yeast is an example of enzymatic reduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols in the presence of ester groups. The procedure performed in water shows the stereoselective power … Read more
Objective To synthesize a bulk chemical (γ-tert-butyl-ε-caprolactone) from a renewable feedstock (4-tert-butylcyclohexanone) by oxidation reaction. Background The Baeyer-Villiger oxidation is a rearrangement transformation of ketones to give esters. This is a suitable and efficient method to synthesize lactones from cyclic ketones in a one-step reaction. In this experiment, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone is transformed into γ-tert-butyl-ε-caprolactone using m-chloroperoxybenzoic … Read more
Objective To perform ether synthesis using phase-transfer catalyst in a water-basic solution. Background In the usual Williamson ether synthesis, a primary alkyl halide reacts with an alkoside. The reaction conditions must be rigorous, paying special attention to the anhydrous solvent. Even a trace of water can spoil the reaction. However, the Williamson ether synthesis may … Read more
Objective To perform a reductive amination in the solid phase. Background Reductive amination is the conversion of an aldehyde or a ketone into an amine via an intermediate imine. This reaction is considered the most remarkable way to synthesize complex amines, and a majority of amines prepared in the pharmaceutical industry are made by this … Read more
Objective To synthesize at microscale a heterocyclic compound, in particular, 2,5-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrole using the Paal-Knorr synthesis. Background Among different types of cyclization reactions for preparing nitrogen heterocycles, one of the most popular methods for the synthesis of substituted pyrroles is known as the Paal-Knorr synthesis. In this experiment, a 1,4-dicarbonyl compound is heated with a primary … Read more
Objective To apply microscale procedures to the synthesis of three vanillin derivatives by means of functional group transformations. Background Vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) is a white crystalline compound that can be isolated from vanilla plant (Vanilla planifola), the highest concentration of this compound being in the seeds. It is one of most commonly used flavorings and perfuming … Read more
Objective To prepare the high valued-added methyl salicylate from commercial aspirin tablets by two simultaneous transesterification-esterification reactions. Background Methyl salicylate is an ester salicylic acid derivative found in many plants. Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens is one of the species with the highest concentration of this compound, and therefore this molecule is known as Gaultheria essential oil. … Read more
Objective To produce anthrone at microscale by reduction of one of the anthracene carbonyl groups. Background Anthrone is a tricyclic aromatic ketone that can be used, for example for calorimetric determinations of carbohydrates in biological fluids. It can be synthesized by partial reduction of anthraquinone with several reagents, as sodium hydrogen sulfite NaHSO3, tin chloride … Read more
