last updated Monday, October 08, 2007

Meeting 3 Problem Set - 30BL

1.Using PC Spartan 2002 at the Science Learning Center (4th Floor Young Hall) do the following:

a. Draw camphor if you have not done it yet (Make sure that all hydrogen atooms are still attached!). Minimize the structures by clicking the minimize icon, , then save.

b. Go to the view mode by clicking the view icon, . Once in the view mode, click the Model menu and select Tube.

c. Select Calculations from the Setup menu.

d) Do the same (steps a-c) for 2-norbornanone.

2. Referring to the below reaction,

(endo/exo huh?)

answer the following questions:

a. Which isomer is expected to be the major product for this reaction? Why? (Include the LUMO diagram generated in question 1 to answer this question. Make sure to show the proper orientation! Hint: What are you trying to show here?)

b. What would change if NaBD4 and CD3OH were used in this reaction? Show the structure of the product.

c. Why is the LUMO orbital used to rationalize the stereochemistry in this reaction?

3. Referring to the below reaction,

answer the following questions:

a. Draw the products formed in this reaction

b. which product is the major and which is the minor? Explain using the LUMO generated above (Include the LUMO diagrams generated in question 1 to answer this question. Make sure to show the proper orientation!). What are the differences compared to 2-norboranone?

4. Experimental

a. A student decides to use diethyl ether as solvent for the reaction. Which problem does this choice pose?

b. How many grams of camphor can be reduced with 0.150 g of sodium borohydride (in theory)? Show pertinent chemical equation and calculations.

c. After the reaction is completed, the reaction mixture chilled and water is added. What is the purpose of this step and what will the student observe?

d. Why is it important to optimize the amount of drying agent being used during the workup?

e. The procedure for the melting point determination asks to used only 1 mm of the sample. Explain.

f. The final product is characterized using FTIR. Outline a brief procedure on how to prepare the sample.

g. In addition, the student has to submit a GC sample. How is this sample prepared and submitted?