The microwave-promoted synthesis of a carbocyclic curcuminoid has been adapted from a known method and introduced into the organic chemistry laboratory curriculum. The experiment features several teaching points: microwave irradiation efficiently promotes the reaction; a heating time of only seven minutes (the experiment is suitable for single-reactor microwave units); minimal solvent; rapid and convenient work-up conditions; medicinal properties of curcumin and its analogs; product conjugation (like curcumin, the product exhibits intense orange color); condensation at the less acidic positions of the diketone. Students from multiple lab sections obtained product in high yield and purity. Recent additional developments will be discussed.

Microwave-promoted synthesis of a carbocyclic curcuminoid: An undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory experiment

247th National Meeting (2014)

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