Microwave heating offers a rapid and efficient alternative to conventional heating technology. Some classic reactions covered in organic laboratory require lengthy reflux times. We have found that the incorporation of microwave heating in the laboratory experience can dramatically reduce reaction times for esterification and nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and can lead to more efficient workup protocols. Shorter reaction times allow students more flexibility to design, optimize, characterize and analyze reaction processes and products. Additionally, microwave-assisted reactions can often be run neat or in aqueous solutions, minimizing the need for organic solvents and simplifying work-up procesess. The derived benefit of "green" reaction conditions for the undergraduate laboratory experience is also of significant interest to us.
Back to Symposia: Microwave Chemistry
Back to The 33rd Northeast Regional Meeting (July 14-17, 2005)