Green chemistry is a field of chemistry where chemists aim to prepare chemicals by using synthetic organic materials that are environmentally friendly. Electricity is a key component needed for most organic chemical procedures. Currently, the required thermal heat source that most chemical reactions require comes from the use of a heating mantle. The hope of finding a way to reduce the amount of electricity needed to perform organic chemical reactions led to the purpose of this research. The goal is to use a high-powered solar reflector as the sole heat source for multi-step organic syntheses, such as that of acetaminophen. Another goal of this research is to develop a greener procedure for the generation of each of the reagents needed to make acetaminophen. This requires the replacement of environmentally harmful chemicals with reactants that are eco-friendly and have similar results for the reactions. The last objective is to discover ways in which poor third-world countries can produce organic compounds without the need for expensive machinery that is typically used in a chemical laboratory. Acetaminophen is commercially synthesized using a multi-step organic procedure in which several of the steps require the use of a heat source. The synthesis also incorporates chemicals that are not particularly friendly to the environment. The exchange of these reagents with more environmentally friendly and sustainable substitutes is being analyzed. The combination of a solar energy heat source and the use of greener chemicals has provided a new synthetic pathway to acetaminophen that can be incorporated in teaching labs as a “green synthesis” experiment or scaled to fit the needs of an industrial synthesis

Progression in the green synthesis of acetaminophen

ACS Fall 2021

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