Week 4 Problem Set - 30BL (Turn in your computer assignment during week 5)
PART I. (Reduction of Camphor)
This assignment is to be completed in the UCLA Science Learning Center computing labs.
1. You can download the files that you saved during the first computer assignment. Alternatively, the files you need for today's assignment can be found at the following location: (at the desktop level) double click the Network Neighboorhood icon --> Dellsrv2 --> Commonly Shared Folders. Copy the the 130AL folder to your desktop.
2. Optimize the above structural geometry of borneol, camphor and isoborneol. (see below instructions). Compare the heat of formation of borneol and isoborneol. Which one is more stable product (thermodynamic product)? How can you rationalize the differences?
4. Determine the dipol momentum for borneol, camphor and isoborneol. (see below instructions). In the GC spectrum, camphor has the shortest retention time, then isoborneol and borneol last. Can you rationalize the GC results based on the calculated dipole momenta of these compounds? (Note: The GC column is weakly polar.)
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Instructions:
- Build, minimize and save the structure. (don't forget to Minimize the structure after building it!!)
this is the minimize button. Always minimize your structure before leaving the building mode.
- click on to enter View Mode
- Select Calculations from the Setup menu.
The following window should appear. Select the options shown.
Verify the Charge is Neutral and Multiplicity is Singlet. Click OK.
- Select Submit from Setup menu.
- When the calculation is completed you will be notified.
- Select Output from the Display menu.
Record the heat of formation value given
See these Helpful Hints for manipulating structures!
Note:
1 au = 1 hartree = 627.5 kcal/mol |
1 eV = 23.06 kcal/mol |
1 hartree = 27.21 eV |
1 Ångstrom = 1.889762 atomic units = 10-8 cm |
PART II. (Aldol Condensation)
1. Calculate the dipole moment for dihedral angles: 0 through 180 degrees in 10 degree increments. Plot the dipole moment of benzil vs. the dihedral angle. |
Newman Projection of Benzil |
Instructions:
- click on Constrain Dihedral angle tool,
- select the atoms shown below (i.e., both oxygens and and carbonyl carbons in the sequence O..C..C..O))
- Click on the lock tool, , in the bottom right corner so that it looks like this,
- Set the dihedral angle to 0 and hit the ENTER key.
- click on the minimize tool, , and wait for the operation to complete.
- click on the minimize tool, , a second time and wait for the operation to complete.
- Select Calculations from the Setup menu. The following window should appear. Select the options shown.
- Make sure the
- Click OK to close the window.
- Select Submit from Setup menu. When the calculation is completed you will be notified.
- Under the Display menu, select Properties.
- A window should appear (the values in this example should differ from yours). If there are no values in the window then you need to double click on the molecule.
- Record the dipole moment and energy given. (In this example the dipole = 3.9 debye).
- Calculate the dipole moment for dihedral angles: 0 through 180 degrees in 15 degree increments. (Hint: Just click on the pink bond and change the value in the box.). Do not define a new constraint at this point. This will confuse the program completely!
- For the higher angles (>120 degrees), you might have to uncheck the symmetry box in the setup calculation menu. However, sometimes it is more advisable to approach from 180 degrees going down.
- Using EXCEL, plot the dipole moment and energy of benzil vs. the dihedral angle (use MS Excel, XY Scatter plot). Do you see any trends? If so, rationalize this observation.
Part III: Phase Transfer Oxidation (due in prelab)
1. What is the function of the sodium hypochlorite and the tetrabutylammonium hydrogensulfate in this reaction?
2. Given is the following mixture: ethanol, ethyl acetate and acidic acid. A GC spectrum is acquired for this mixture isothermally at 90 oC. Answer the following questions:
a. Determine the sequence of in which they will come out of a GC column with a non-polar column.
b. What would change (if anything) if polar column is used instead ?
c. What would change if the temperature would be increased by 10 oC using a non-polar column?
d. What would change if spectrum would be obtained using a temperature gradient?
3. A separatory funnel is used this week during the work-up. Answer the following questions.
a. Why is it important to 'vent' the separatory funnel frequently? Why do you want to make sure not to point the stem towards a different person?
b. Why do you have to remove the stopper on top when you drain the solution out of the separatory funnel?
c. Why do you have to be very cautious if you use sodium bicarbonate for extraction?
4. Recrystallization
a. Why is 95% ethanol used for the recrystallization of the crude benzoin?
b. You dissolved the crude product, but no crystals are formed afterwards. What can you do?
c. How can you optimize the recovery yield for the recrystallization step?