Project-Based Learning in Green Electrochemistry for Undergraduates: An Efficient Synthesis Route of a Natural Product

As a model study for improving undergraduate organic chemistry laboratories with contemporary research concepts and practices, we evaluated a project module aiming at the synthesis of two porphyrin compounds. The module was implemented in a format that differed in several ways from that of a traditional course. It was designed for small student group participation in a research-oriented setting. The students were given multiple choices of literature methods for the synthesis. They were led to discuss the pros and cons and rate the practicality of the methods against the project goals and laboratory conditions. Participation in the reasoning and decision-making processes substantially enhanced the depth of learning. They were encouraged to innovate and resolve an equipment problem incidental to the chosen method by creating a steam bath reactor. They were urged to cut down on waste and study the use of hydrophobic compounds in water for sustainability. The products of the project module were designed to support ongoing research, which gave the students a strong sense of reality and responsibility. They were motivated to care for the details and quality of their work by a desire to provide quality products for their intended research. As an option instead of a full implementation of the proposed format, the project module can be modified to serve as a four-session curriculum for a traditional organic chemistry laboratories course. We expect it will add dimensions to the learning of organic chemistry through the enhanced practice of problem-solving and connecting lab activities to the modern environment.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratories through Integration with Research: Prospects and a Model Study

Yu,

Lian,

Lin

et al. 2024

“…In this situation, it is necessary to integrate toxicology and hazard assessment into the education of molecular design. There have been some teaching practices on green chemistry topics to cultivate students’ green awareness at the undergraduate − or high school level. − However, there is still a lack of green toxicology education for postgraduate students who are more likely to work in molecular design research in the future.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introducing a Toxicological Perspective to View Chemicals: A Web-Based Class for Educating Green Molecular Design

Shi,

Li,

Wang

et al. 2024

Designing safer chemicals is an integral part of green chemistry that supports good health and well-being. The teaching of molecule design through relevant courses has important implications for the education of sustainable chemists. In these courses, training in toxicology and hazard assessment is essential for students to study benign chemical design that promotes social and environmental justices. However, toxicology training has been rarely included in the course of molecular design, and education of green molecular design at the postgraduate level has been less involved. In this study, we developed an online classroom for toxicology training as a new component of our chemical molecular design course. This class was designed to provide students with a toxicity perspective for viewing chemicals by integrating our three web-based tools. The average score of students' attitude evaluation toward the web-based class was 4.0/5.0, indicating that the toxicology class achieved the expected effects and provided a good experience for students to learn about designing safer chemicals. This work may facilitate the education of green molecular design and inspire students to seriously consider chemically toxic side effects.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By replacing traditional oxidant and reductant with the gain and loss of electrons, it has already been admitted as one of the most promising synthetic methods, which makes it possible to utilize nontoxic inorganic bromine salts as the bromine source, instead of traditional substances. However, undergraduates have little access to this new synthetical method in current courses, 24 which inspired us to design a comparative experiment involving organic electrochemistry for introducing green chemistry to them, as many previous relevant attempts had been conducted successfully. 25−28 In this experimental design, students are required to explore two routes of bromination, while tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is selected as the target product: (1) direct bromination of bisphenol A (BPA) with liquid bromine as reactant (Scheme 1b) 29 and (2) an electrochemical method of synthesizing TBBPA with inorganic bromine salt as the reactant (Scheme 1c).…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bringing Green Organic Electrochemistry to Undergraduates: A Designed Comparison Organic Experiment of Bromination

Xiong,

Liu,

Fan

et al. 2023

Self Cite

The demand for sustainable synthetic methods in modern industry has been increasing rapidly due to the requirements of environmental protection and energy conservation, which has brought organic electrochemical synthesis to the forefront nowadays. Here, a two-part laboratory experiment has been designed to train undergraduates in comprehending and learning related concepts and operations of organic electrochemistry. First, students are required to perform a traditional bromination reaction of bisphenol A (BPA). In the second part, students need to achieve bromination of BPA in electrochemical conditions. Since tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the common product of the two methods above, students are able to assess sustainability from multiple dimensions via 12 principles of Green Chemistry, which provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to focus on variables and sensitivities in experimental operations.