last updated Tuesday, November 5, 2002

Problems Set #7

ATTN: answers to the below questions are due at the start of your lab period of Meeting 4; these answers should be part of your pre-lab write-up.

The draft version is worth 10 points, the final paper 40 points.

1. Why do you use a staining solution in order to visualize the spots on yoru TLC plates during the epoxidation? What do you expect to observe?

2. What is the source of the oxygen in the epoxide?

3. What is the purpose of the sodium dihydrogenphosphate solution?

4. How can you determine the composition of your compound in terms of enantiomers?

5. What are possible byproducts that contaminate your product? How do you explain their presence?

6. How could you improve the ee for your reaction?

7. And the most difficult question of all: If both a bear in Alaska and one in Yosemite fall into the water, which one dissolves faster?