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In my senior level inorganic lab, I've tried to incorporate full semester research projects. Since I love synthesis, I have tended to assign synthetic projects. Students have learned a lot during these experiences, but there are the obvious challenges of multistep synthetic work in a 3 hour a week lab. I'd like to try to develop projects that are more mechanistic in nature, but am struggling to come up with ideas that are both compelling and achievable. We will be working in lab this spring with social distancing and some restrictions, but should be able to do all the things we normally do. All ideas are appreciated!
Thanks and Happy Holidays.
Tim
Not sure if this is at all the type of thing you might be looking for, but I'm planning to do a version of the experiments linked below, which have lots of directions you could take the project. I have done the synthesis and identification of the cis/trans via group theory IR in the past with success and will be trying to add the NMR-based mechanism piece this spring.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed080p1044
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5707ede0d210b8708e037a1e/t/58b70…
What about screening conditions/catalysts for a challenging C-C or C-X cross-coupling? In early weeks students could make calibration curves for GC analysis and pick out conditions to try. After the first round, the class compares data and plans a second round of experiments?
Kyle
In reply to Not sure if this is at all… by Amanda Reig / Ursinus College
Amanda,
That looks like a really cool experiment and this could be really fun. My goal is to bring some ideas to my class and let them select a project. This is definitely one that I use. I'll keep you posted on what we learn if it is selected. I'd love to hear how it's going with your course.
Tim.
timothyherzog@weber.edu
In reply to What about screening… by Kyle Grice / DePaul University
Hi Kyle,
I like this idea a lot. I'm trying to push NMR in this class in particular since they get a lot of experience with GC in their analytical classes and almost no real experience with NMR so I will try to do this using NMR as the analytical tool.
Thanks so much.
Tim