Organic chemistry lab courses are often taught as a compilation of miscellaneous, unrelated reactions where students are taught to follow a recipe, rather than gain practical insight from the experiments. These methods are well-suited for teaching proper laboratory etiquette and techniques, but they often fall short in conveying important lessons regarding best practices for synthetic organic research. This inhibits learning as students feel as they are passive observers rather than active participants in the learning process. Which, in turn, makes the course seem like an exercise in frustration rather than a useful learning experience. Additionally, the protocols and characterization methods used are often outdated and many students who go on to pursue organic chemistry as a research focus find themselves unprepared when attempting to apply their formal training to real-world situations.<br/>With these limitations in mind, we have designed an advanced organic synthesis laboratory with a focus on characterization techniques for confirmation of the final product of a multistep synthesis. Students are challenged to explain the chemistry of their observations during each experiment. Additionally, multiple methods of characterization, including 1H NMR, IR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy as well as melting point and TLC were performed during each reaction. Students were required to decide which method of characterization provided the most useful information in proving/validating product formation.<br/>Here, we will discuss the rationale behind the reactions chosen, course goals, and mode of student evaluation. Additionally, modifications to the course from semester to semester will be discussed to demonstrate the flexibility of course design for use at institutions with limited funding or space.<br/>

Towards student success: A multistep synthesis based organic chemistry teaching laboratory

2019 Spring National Meeting

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