This quarter, the students will perform Extra Credit Project 2 (Microwave Synthesis of Phenytoin). The prelab questions below refer to this project: The pre-lab questions (due together with the rest of the prelab by Friday, November 7, 2014 at 4:30 pm in the instructor's office) :

1. Why can this reaction be considered an example for Green Chemistry (Hint: It might be useful to read the corresponding chapter in the SKR)?

2. Why is it crucial for the success of the reaction that the reactants are ground together properly?

3. Why is it important to use a small beaker (25 mL) for the reaction?

4. Upon cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture is broken up and treated with 95 % ethanol. Which purpose does this serve?

5. The student submits a sample for GC/MS analysis. How is the sample prepared?

6. The bond between the amide carbons and the nitrogen atoms display a length of about 135 pm, which is fairly short for an C-N bond. Rationalize this observation.

Notes:

1. As part of the prelab the student has to include a proper infrared spectrum which has pertinent peaks labeled.

2. The experiment will be carried out November 13, November 18 and November 19, 2014 during the student's regular meeting.

3. The formal report will be due on November 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm in YH 3077E as hardcopy and by 1:00 pm on the same day on turnitin.com (Course ID: 8192874, Password: Chem30BL).