A semester-long research project for Organic II lab sections was developed to build on preliminary results from our research lab indicating that the natural product neurolenin B showed promise as a treatment for lymphatic filariasis.  Students isolated neurolenins from the Central American plant <i>Neurolaena lobata</i> then proposed syntheses of previously unknown analogs using reactions learned in Organic I and II.  After finding literature-based procedures for other substrates, students ran reactions on neurolenins and analyzed their results by TLC and NMR.  The semester culminated with a public poster session and final report using the <i>Organic Letters</i> template.  Qualitative and quantitative assessment data were collected to demonstrate the efficacy of the course.  Students did not self-select into this section, were demographically similar to the other six lab sections, and performed above average in the lecture portion of the course.  Also, when compared to survey results from the other lab sections, they showed higher levels of self-reported topic understanding and general motivation and interest in organic chemistry.

Course-based research in Organic II: Synthesis of neurolenin derivatives for potential treatment of a neglected tropical disease

256th National Meeting (2018)

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