Literature Discussion: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a Stabilized Calcium Carbene: R2CCa

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 16:26
Description
This is a literature discussion assignment which asks students to read and write responses to some guided questions.  This is then followed by an in-class discussion loosely based on the questions provided.  This particular article investigates the synthesis and structural characteristics of a calcium carbene.  Within the context of the journal article, I ask students to review MO diagrams and interpret X-ray data.  I also introduced computational methods in the context of inorganic chemistry using this paper.

Literature Discussion: "Analysis of an Unprecedented Mechanism for the Catalytic Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds"

Submitted by Lori Watson / Earlham College on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 16:14
Description

This is a literature discussion assignment in which students read a paper, come up with their own answers to the provided questions (and submit them).  This is followed by a general in-class discussion on the paper.  This particular article deals with hydrosilyation of carbonyl compounds by a Re catalyst and describes the mechanism and kinetics in detail.  I found it a good paper to help students connect their P-chem (and inorganic) kinetics with a "real" system.  As part of the literature assignment, I also ask students to draw an MO diagram of a simple substrate (for review).

Two Communications on Bioinorganic and Coordination Chemistry

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 20:39
Description
This assignment would make a good choice for a first attempt at actually having a discussion on primary literature articles since these are two short communications. They also touch on two important applications of coordination chemistry so might be appropriate early in a course, namely modeling biological systems and non-linear optical applications.

student choice experiment

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:26
Description

The students prepare a short proposal outlining their desired target and why they want to make it.  Chemicals are ordered, and during the last 3-4 weeks of the semester, the students carry out their synthesis.  The writeup is as a paper submtited to the journal Inorganic Chemistry using the template from the journal web page.

Buchwald/Hartwig amination

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 19:05
Description

I wanted a modern organometallic experiment showing the utility of Pd for coupling reactions.  Students attempted a variety of reaction conditions during the spring of 2007 and 2008.  Eventually,  we were able to get the reaction to work with a variety of primary amines (linear, cyclohexylamine) and t-butylamine.  Yields are not great (40-80%) and this experiment needs some optimization.  However, products were observed by GC-MS and NMR.

How to Read an Inorganic Paper for Synthesis Information

Submitted by Hilary Eppley / DePauw University on Sat, 11/17/2007 - 16:49
Description

This assignment takes students through the process of learning how to find and read a paper from the primary literature, specifically to get experimental details (synthesis, characterization).  It also focuses on how to use a variety of chemical information resources.  It could be combined with the questions from Chemical Information Assignment to create a longer assignment.  

Manganese Carbonyl experiment

Submitted by Adam Johnson / Harvey Mudd College on Sat, 11/17/2007 - 13:09
Description

This experiment has been modified and expanded from the J. Chem. Ed. article linked below (J. Chem.

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