The synthesis of (Z)-4-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2- phenyloxazol-5(4"H")-one, which is a potent immunomodulator and tyrosinase inhibitor, is described as an experiment for an upper-division undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory course. This compound is produced via an Erlenmeyer-Plo¨chl reaction in the absence of any additional solvents…

This experiment describes a method for cyclohexene oxidation to "trans"-1,2-cyclohexanediol using "p"-toluenesulfonic acid ("p"-TsOH) as promoter and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in a biphasic system. This method allows conversions up to 97.9% (monitored by [superscript 1]H NMR). "trans"-1,2-Cyclohexanediol was not easily separated from the…

The enzymatic resolution of "rac"-1-phenylethanol using ethyl myristate as acylating agent and solvent and "Candida antarctica" lipase B (CAL-B) as biocatalyst was demonstrated with catalyst and medium reuse. Both enantiomers of 1-phenylethanol were isolated by sequential enzymatic reactions and product distillations. From the first enzymatic…