This quarter, the students will perform Extra Credit Project (Synthesis of 4-Phenyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-one). The prelab questions below refer to this project: The pre-lab questions (due together with the rest of the prelab by Friday, August 21, 2015 at 4:30 pm in the instructor's office) :

1. Why is this class of compounds important?

2. Why can this reaction be considered an example for "Green Chemistry"?

3. What is the function of p-toluenesulfonic acid in the reaction?

4. Is it important to mix the solids well before storing the mixture in a closed vial. Explain.

5. Why is the central six-membered ring almost planar?

6. What is used as solvent for the recrystallization? Rationalize this choice.

7. How many signals are observed in the ¹H-NMR spectrum of the compound? Where are they located?

Notes:

1. As part of the prelab the student has to include a proper infrared spectrum (not the one from the course reader) and mass spectrum which has pertinent peaks labeled.

2. The experiment will be carried out during the week of August 25, 2015 through August 28, 2015 during the student's regular meeting. The GC/MS samples can only be submitted on August 27, 2015 or August 28, 2015.

3. The formal report will be due by Monday, August 31, 2015 at 4:30 pm in YH 3077E as hardcopy and by 5:00 pm on the same day on turnitin.com (Course ID: 10086582, Password: Chem30BL).