The use of KOH and a phase transfer catalyst to achieve diastereoselective Darzens condensation is described and a modification of the method for use in organic chemistry is carried out. The experiment involves the condensation of t-butyl chloroacentate and p-tolualdehyde with KOH and benzyltriethylammonium chloride in THF.

The reaction of a ketone and an aldehyde in aqueous Na[subscript 2]CO[subscript 2] is described. This experiment is performed in the absence of strong bases or organic solvents and offers the opportunity for students to observe the critical role that reaction temperature and base strength have in determining the product of the base-mediated…

The microwave-mediated preparation of lophine (2,4,5-triphenylimidazole) is described. This experiment allows for an introduction to the emerging technology of microwave-assisted organic synthesis while providing an opportunity for students to employ the principles of carbonyl chemistry in devising a mechanism to explain the formation of the…