Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Complexes with a Tridentate Nitrogen-Donor Ligand: An Integrated Research Experiment for Undergraduate Students

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 92; no. 12; pp. 2140 - 2145
• Main Authors: Bussey, Katherine A, Cavalier, Annie R, Connell, Jennifer R, Mraz, Margaret E, Holderread, Ashley S, Oshin, Kayode D, Pintauer, Tomislav
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 08.12.2015; Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; College Science; College students; Coordination compounds; Copper compounds; Crystallography; Inorganic Chemistry; Laboratories; Laboratory Experiments; Laboratory Procedures; Metallurgy; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic Chemistry; Physical Sciences; Reaction mechanisms; Science Experiments; Single crystals; Spectroscopy; Student Research; Students; Undergraduate Students; NMR Spectroscopy; Upper-Division Undergraduate; Analytical Chemistry; Synthesis; IR Spectroscopy; Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary; Inquiry-Based/Discovery Learning; Inorganic Chemistry; Crystals/Crystallography; Organic Chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00175

An integrated laboratory experiment applying concepts and techniques developed in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and instrumental analysis is presented for use by students interested in undergraduate research. The experiment incorporates some advanced laboratory practices such as multistep organic synthesis and purification, detailed reaction mechanism, air-sensitive metalation techniques, variable-temperature NMR experiments, cyclic voltammetry, and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Subsequently, students are presented with an experience that mirrors fundamental inorganic chemistry research practices found in laboratories throughout the world.