Green organic chemistry experiments employing miniscale and microscale approach were implemented in two semester organic chemistry courses coordinating lecture materials with the lab experiments for the last twelve years at Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York. The concepts presented in organic chemistrylectures were enforced through laboratory experiments. The experiments enable conceptual understanding, heighten student interest, improve knowledge retention, and mechanistic approach. Organic chemistry I students start with melting point determination and recrystallizatons using water as solvent. Students perform reactions of hydrocarbons and extraction experiments, simple and fractional distillation using water-methanol mixture and steam distillation. Students carry out substitution and elimination reactions using atom economy and phosphoric acid, and synthesis of adipic acid using aqueous potassium permanganate. Students perform multistep synthesis in Organic chemistry II laboratory and use the materials prepared in these experiments in the future experiments. For instance, p-nitroaniline prepared in the multi-step synthesis was used in the synthesis of p-iodonitrobenzene. And benzoic acid synthesized from Cannizzaro's reaction is used in the Fischer esterification. Students carry out Friedel-Crafts acylation using micriscale approach under solvent free conditions and classification tests to distinguish aldehyde and ketones, amines, and alcohols.

Green experiments in organic chemistry

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.