Historically significant and useful reactions are often unsuitable for the undergraduate laboratory; the Hantzsch reaction is no exception. Adapting newer methods that employ lower temperatures and milder reaction conditions while still producing the desired reaction is an area of growing interest for chemical educators. Starting materials for the Hantzsch reaction can be produced overnight in a 30 oC incubator in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or baker’s yeast. The reaction can then be performed in the undergraduate laboratory using mild reaction conditions and any standard glassware available. Products are isolated using extraction and can serve as an excellent specimen for studying 1H NMR and IR.

Green Hantzsch reactions suitable for the teaching laboratory

251st National Meeting (2016)

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