Lab Syllabus

Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Spring 2006

Faculty contact information

Dr. Rachel Jameton                                      office: MLH 231

792-2268                                                                                              rajameton@lcsc.edu

Office hours: M 9:00-10:00, T 1:30-4:00, W 1:30-3:00, Friday 12:00-1:00

Introduction

            Lab this semester will be composed of a single project that you will propose and then carry out.  There are several rationales for this extended lab.  First, it will give you first hand experience in thinking through a scientific process yourself, a natural extension of some of the more independent labs that you did last semester.  Second, your writing and presentation skills will be focused on as you discuss and present your own research.  Third, you will learn common organic and biochemical lab techniques that are used in many research labs, thus providing you will essential skills for future employment.  Finally, because many students in organic chemistry are biology majors, this lab can help to connect the disciplines.

Attendance and Participation

            Attendance and participation in lab are mandatory and count toward your grade (see grade distribution below).   Additionally, there may be some instruments, such as spectroscopic instruments, that you will need to use outside of lab hours due to limited availability.

During each lab meeting, you and your partner will meet with me for the purpose of identifying where you are where you are going in your research that week. 

Assignments

            There will be several different types of assignments.  All of the assignments will be completed with your partner(s).  First, you will write a research proposal, describing the question that you are going to answer and the experiments that you will do to answer that question.  Second, you will write a progress report every other week.  Third, you will write a final report.  Finally, you will present your research.  Details and expectations for these assignments will be discussed in lab.

Special needs and special arrangements (such as making up labs)

            If you have any special needs such as a documented learning disability or other situation that limits your access or ability to participate in class or lab, please discuss the situation with me as soon as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements. Assistance with accommodations can also be found at the Office of Student Life, room 111 Reid Centennial Hall.

            If you must miss a lab, please give me at least 48 hours notice so we can work out alternate arrangements.  Of course, circumstances beyond all of our control happen.  Don’t panic, but make sure to speak with me as soon as possible.  There will be no incompletes awarded for students with less than an 80% average at the time of the incomplete.  The course cannot be dropped after March 31.  Plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with college policy.

A word or two to prepare you

            Lab work typically takes twice as much time as you think it will and the semester will go by quickly.  No matter what you propose doing, you are going to encounter snags and hold-ups that can be frustrating.  Additionally, I will expect you to consult the literature to find answers to your questions, both because it is a vital research skill to know how to do so, and also because I don’t necessarily know the answers to all of your questions.  Part of research is to learn how to deal with the frustrations, accentuate the positives (no matter how minor) and construct a final report on what you do find out. 

            Second, make sure to take your progress reports seriously.  Write them as completely as possible and complete your introduction on time.  This will alleviate the problem of having too much work to do at the end of the semester. 

Summary of Grading

Participation in lab                                                                                                    40%

Proposal                                                                                                                    15%

Progress reports                                                                                                       20%   

Final paper                                                                                                                15%   

Presentation                                                                                                              10%

Grading scale

Project ideas

            Here are a couple of ideas for projects.  Of course, you are welcome and encouraged to come up with your own.

• Synthesis of biodiesel from several different sources and a comparison of their boiling points and efficiency (energy released/gram)
• Combinatorial synthesis of antibiotics and testing of antibiotic activity
• Antibiotic components of garlic or other foods
• Free radical scavenging activity of fruits and vegetables (choose one)
• Paper pulp bleaching activity of salens
• Using molecular mechanics (computers) and IR to develop a trend in C=O IR absorptions
• Improving fuel quality with clathrates (molecular cages)
• History of science – repeating Wohler’s preparation of urea
• Using phase-transfer catalysis and a carbene reaction to prepare jet fuel
• Investigating the stereochemistry of bromine addition
• Chain-growth polymerization
• Synthesis of vanillyl alcohol from vanillin
• Determination of structure of a natural product from anise
• Synthesis of DEET
• Synthesis of dyes

Tentative timetable

Note that each lab will begin with directions on how to use instruments and carry out other techniques, as specified below, and then you will work on your own project.