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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1998
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In the Laboratory
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The Baker's Yeast Reduction of Keto-Esters in Organic Solvents: A One Week Research Project for Undergraduate Students
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Michael North
University of Wales, Bangor, Department of Chemistry, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UNITED KINGDOM
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May 1998
Vol. 75 No. 5
p. 630
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| Abstract |
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An experiment has been designed which allows final year undergraduate students to carry out a mini-research project in one week and thus get a flavour of the joys and tribulations of conducting chemical research before they undertake a major research project. The experiment is an investigation into the reduction of alpha- or beta-keto esters using non-fermenting Baker's yeast in petroleum ether. There are a number of advantages to this method of using Baker's yeast, including a reduction in the amount of organic solvent used, and a much simplified purification procedure. During the course of the mini-project, the substrate specificity of the yeast is investigated, and the conditions for the optimisation of a particular keto ester are determined. Each product is analysed by a variety of analytical techniques including polarimetry, IR, NMR, and GC. In addition, the use of correct stereochemical nomenclature to describe prochiral, and chiral compounds as well as chemical reactions are discussed.
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| Supplement |
The detailed version of the laboratory experiment is available from the author. The text of the laboratory is a Microsoft Word document. The figures are availabe as an Adobe Illustrator file or as JPEGs.
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| More Information |
Citation |
North, Michael. J. Chem. Educ. 1998 75 630.
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Keywords |
Laboratory, Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic/Bioinorganic, Enzymes, Organic Synthesis, Stereochemistry
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
September 22, 2004
June 24, 2005
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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1998
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May
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630
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