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Category : Natural Sciences

Cost Effective Pd-catalyzed Coumarin Synthesis

Written by Jaime Abstract It was hypothesized that the reaction substrates and conditions would be a viable option for industrial and large scale synthesis of the target coumarin product.  Ethyl phenylpropiolate was synthesized from phenylacetylene and ethylchloroformate.  It was then combined with sesamol, in the presence of palladium acetate as a catalyst, to synthesize 6,7-mehtylenedioxy-4-phenylcoumarin. Introduction Coumarins are naturally occurring molecules that are found in plants that have numerous uses in the medical field because of its biological activity.  The […]

Reduction of Camphor

Written by Kevin Abstract: This experiment will reduce camphor into isobornel with sodium borohydride. After the product is obtained, a percent yield, IR spectrum, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry will be obtained to discuss the properties  of isoborneol. Introduction: This was a reduction reaction in whish camphor was reduced into isoborneol with the use of sodium borohydride. Experimental Description: Camphor was allowed to be reduced into isoborneol in this reaction. Camphor was first obtained and dissolved in methanol. Sodium borohydride was […]

Iodination of Acetone

Written by Isabel Introduction: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the rate law for the reaction of iodine with acetone. In order to determine the rate law, we will use initial rates. Since this is an iodination of acetone experiment, the initial rate would be the time it takes for the brownish color of iodine to turn clear. In the end we should expect to see a clear solution and a concentration of zero for iodine. Things that […]

The Isolation of Trimyristin From Nutmeg

Written by Adi The purpose of this experiment was to illustrate the process of obtaining a pure organic compound from a natural source. The subfield of organic chemistry that deals with isolating and studying chemicals found in nature is natural products chemistry. Extraction, distillation, recrystallization, and chromatography are used the techniques that are used to isolate and purify chemical compounds from natural sources. The extraction of nutmeg seed to isolate trimyristin was performed in this lab. Materials: sand bath, nutmeg, […]

Effects of Substituents on the Absorption Spectra of molecules

Written by John Introduction: The objective of this lab was the observation of the effects of substituents on the absorption spectra of molecules (most specifically azulene). ChemDraw 3D was used to visualize the electron densities and energies of the HOMO and LUMO states of several molecules. Then, the absorption spectra of several chemicals—including azulene, mono-substituted azulenes, and poly-substituted azulenes—were obtained using spectrophotometers, and these absorption spectra were compared. These spectra allowed the explanation of shifts in HOMO and LUMO states […]

Transmission of Microorganisms on Skin and Fomites

Written by Corinne Introduction             Microorganisms can be transmitted from infected to healthy persons in a variety of ways. Two ways emphasized in this lab report are transmission via skin to skin contact, and transmission via fomites. Fomites are objects or substances which are not living but capable of transmitting microorganisms between people. Fomites become especially dangerous in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, as they can transmit nosocomial infections. Nosocomial infections are acquired by patients while in a hospital setting, […]