21
May
2019
Organic Chemistry
21
May
2019
Inorganic Chemistry
Submitted by Brian Anderson, Keene State College
25
Apr
2019
Inorganic Chemistry
Submitted by Gary L. Guillet, Armstrong State University
7
Apr
2019
Encapsulation of Small Molecule Guests by a Self-Assembling Superstructure
Submitted by Shirley Lin, United States Naval AcademyEvaluation Methods:
I have not yet implemented this LO. As with other literature discussions, instructors could collect the completed worksheets (by an individual student or in groups of students) for evaluation.
Evaluation Results:
I have not yet implemented this LO so there are currently no evaluation results to share.
Description:
This literature discussion focuses upon two journal articles by the Rebek group on the synthesis and host-guest chemistry observed with the "tennis ball."
Prerequisites:
Corequisites:
Course Level:
Subdiscipline:
Learning Goals:
After completing this literature discussion, students will be able to:
- provide examples of supramolecular systems in nature that use reversible, weak noncovalent interactions
- define terms in supramolecular chemistry such as host, guest, and self-complementary
- identify the number and location of hydrogen bonds within the "tennis ball" assembly
- draw common organic reaction mechanisms for the synthesis of the "tennis ball" subunits
- describe the physical and spectroscopic/spectrometric techniques used to provide evidence for assembly of a host-guest system
- explain the observed thermodynamic parameters that are important for encapsulation of small molecule guests by the "tennis ball"
Topics Covered:
Related activities:
Implementation Notes:
This LO could be used at the end of a traditional 2-semester organic chemistry sequence as an introduction to organic supramolecular systems, as an organic chemistry example within a discussion about inorganic supramolecular chemistry, or in an upper-division elective course about supramolecular chemistry. The LO topic, the "tennis ball," has a published laboratory experiment in J. Chem. Educ. (found here). Time permitting, instructors could have students read the article and complete the literature discussion before executing the experiment in the lab.
As usual, instructors may wish to mix-and-match questions to suit their learning goals.
Time Required:
depends upon implementation; minimum of 20-30 minutes for the literature discussion if students read an d answer questions outside of class
Web Resources:
26
Mar
2019
Redox-switch polymerization catalysis
Submitted by Chip Nataro, Lafayette CollegeEvaluation Methods:
I am really unsure at this point. I may use the 1FLO version of this as a series of exam quesitons, or I may have the students work on this literature discussion in class. Either way, I am excited to see what they will do with it.
Description:
This is the full literature discussion based on a communicaiton (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 9278). This paper describes a redox-switch yttrium catalyst that is an active catalyst for the polymerization of L-lactide in the reduced form and inactive in the oxidized form. The catalyst contains a ferrocene-based ligand that serves as the redox active site in the catalyst. This full literature discussion is an extension of the one figure literature discussion that is listed below. In addition to presenting all of the same questions as that learning object, this includes interpretation of the XANES spectra presented in the paper. It also asks the students to identify the monomer and polymer in the reaction of interest. A possible extension of this learning object would be to have students examine and take measurements from the crystal structure presented in the paper in order to support the apparently low electron count on the yttrium catalyst. The Covalent Bond Classification system for counting electrons is used in this learning object.
Prerequisites:
Corequisites:
Topics Covered:
Course Level:
Learning Goals:
A student should be able to apply their knowledge to
- describe and interpret a plot of conversion vs. time
- count electrons and determine valence states in organometallic compounds
- determine if an organometallic compound is an oxidizing or reducing agent
- decipher a first-order kinetic plot
- interpret XANES spectra to determine the valence of iron in the catalyst
Subdiscipline:
Related activities:
Web Resources:
22
Mar
2019
1FLO: Redox-switch polymerization catalysis
Submitted by Chip Nataro, Lafayette CollegeEvaluation Methods:
I am really unsure at this point. I could certainly see this being used as a series of exam questions or have students take a few minutes to think about the questions individually and then have them share with a small group and present their thoughts in class. This is actively interpreting a figure from the literature with almost no context. As such, it is certainly going to be indicative of their understanding of other ideas and concepts.
Description:
This is what I hope will be a new classification of learning object called a one figure learning object (1FLO). The purpose is to take a single figure from a paper and present students with a series of questions related to interpreting the figure. This literature discussion is based on a paper (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 9278) from Paula Diaconescu's lab in which a yttrium polymerization catalyst with a ferrocene-based ligand can effectively be rendered active or inactive depeneding on the valence state of the ligand. The figure chosen from the paper shows the conversion of the monomer (L-lactide) to polymer over the course of time. During the reaction, the valence state of the ligand is changed and the rate of polymerization is significantly impacted. While the purpose of this LO was to limit consideration to a single figure, there is so much to mine from this communication that a companion literature discussion was developed to go into more of the details that were presented. Certainly this 1FLO can stand alone or be used in conjunction with the companion literature discussion. The Covalent Bond Classification system for counting electrons is used in this learning object.
Topics Covered:
Corequisites:
Prerequisites:
Subdiscipline:
Learning Goals:
A student should be able to apply their knowledge to
- describe and interpret a plot of conversion vs. time
- count electrons and determine valence states in organometallic compounds
- determine if an organometallic compound is an oxidizing or reducing agent
- decipher a first-order kinetic plot
Course Level:
Related activities:
Implementation Notes:
I have yet to use this but I anticipate doing so in the fall. I hope it works as well as I think it can. It is such a simple plot and yet it is so rich in chemistry. I have a feeling I am going to have a very hard time containing myself to just this LO and not using the companion full Literature Discussion.
Time Required:
Unknown but I think it could be as short as 15 minutes
Web Resources:
3
Mar
2019
Supramolecular Chemistry Videos
Submitted by Shirley Lin, United States Naval AcademyEvaluation Methods:
I have yet to use this resource with students and therefore have no assessment of student learning to share at this time.
Evaluation Results:
I have yet to use this resource with students.
Description:
The Rebek Laboratory homepage contains information on and molecular visualizations of a variety of host-guest systems developed by the research group over several decades. The theme behind this set of examples is the use of hydrogen-bonding to achieve self-assembly. Under the "Research" tab, one can find four videos with narration: an introduction to molecular assembly and three videos of specific examples of self-assembled host systems (the cavitand, the cylinder and the volleyball). In addition, at the bottom of the tab, there are links to JSmol files for 5 host systems (tennis ball, jelly donut, cylindrical capsule, softball, and tetrameric capsule) that allow the assemblies to be visualized interactively.
This is a great resource for faculty looking for ways to incorporate the new ACS Committee on Professional Training guidelines to discuss macromolecular, supramolecular, mesoscale and nanoscale systems within the framework of their existing curricula.
Prerequisites:
Corequisites:
Course Level:
Topics Covered:
Learning Goals:
I have not yet used this resource with students but here are some possible relevant learning goals.
After viewing the Rebek Laboratory Homepage web source, students will be able to:
1) classify various self-assembled host-guest systems by the number of molecular components forming the assembly
2) identify the number and position of the hydrogen bonds that are responsible for the assembly of each host
3) identify the functional groups on the components of the host systems that are responsible for hydrogen bonding
4) state the experimentally determined percent volume of space generally occupied by guests that are encapsulated in these host systems
Subdiscipline:
Related activities:
Implementation Notes:
I have yet to use this website in my teaching but I hope that it may be a resource in expanding our curriculum in supramolecular chemistry.
Time Required:
depends on use
Web Resources:
13
Feb
2019
Inorganic Chemistry
Submitted by John Lee, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
31
Jan
2019
More Electron Counting and CBC Assignments for Organometallic Complexes
Submitted by Matt Whited, Carleton CollegeEvaluation Methods:
Students were evaluated informally as I walked around to help the groups as well as during presentations.
Evaluation Results:
A large majority of the students had no problem making assignments for the simple and intermediate cases. This outcome is largely a testament to the ease of use of the CBC method. In fact, students who had no background in inorganic or organometallic chemistry tended to perform a little better because they were less likely to bring in preconceptions about "oxidation state".
Students struggled a bit with the Z-type Ga ligand, which is great because it helped them move forward in understanding the periodic relationship to Al and B. Students also struggled a bit with the cyclic (alkyl)aminocarbene ligands in the cobalt dimer, since they had not seen those before.
Description:
This in-class group activity extends my original post by providing more examples of varying difficulty for students to assign MLXZ classifications and electron counts to organometallic complexes. The answers to these are unambiguous within the CBC system, but they provide excellent starting points for conversation with students about bonding formalisms with organometallics.
Learning Goals:
* Students should be able to use the covalent bond classification method to assign MLXZ classifications to a variety of organometallic complexes.
* Students should be able to defend their assignments using both organic and inorganic views of structure and bonding.
* Students will understand the ambiguities associated with assigning bond orders, valencies, oxidation states, etc., with the hope that their understanding of covalently bonded organometallic systems will become more nuanced.
Subdiscipline:
Prerequisites:
Course Level:
Topics Covered:
Corequisites:
Related activities:
Implementation Notes:
I split students into groups of 3, as noted in the handout. Since this was a small class, I used 10 problems (all 7 from this handout and 3 from the earlier activity) and each student presented one answer. Students took about 25 minutes to work through the problems, and then I had the students present and encouraged questions and challenges to their assignments. The students brought several interesting insights that deepened their understanding of bonding and the connection between Organic Chemistry (which they have all taken) and Inorganic/Organometallic Chemistry (which most of them have not seen).
Time Required:
45 minutes
Web Resources:
28
Jan
2019
Guided Literature Discussion of “Next-Generation Water-Soluble Homogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Glycerol to Lactic Acid”
Submitted by Murielle Watzky, University of Northern ColoradoEvaluation Methods:
Concepts covered during literature discussions will be included among exam materials.
Evaluation Results:
N/A
Description:
This Guided Literature Discussion was assigned as a course project, and is the result of work originated by students Joie Games and Benjamin Melzer. It is based on the article “Next-Generation Water-Soluble Homogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Glycerol to Lactic Acid” by Matthew Finn, J. August Ridenour, Jacob Heltzel, Christopher Cahill, and Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal in Organometallics 2018 37 (9), 1400-1409. It includes a Reading Guide that will direct students to specific sections of the paper that were emphasized in the discussion. This article reports a systematic study of a series of homogeneous catalysts for the conversion of glycerol to lactic acid.
Course Level:
Prerequisites:
Corequisites:
Learning Goals:
After reading and discussing this article, a student should be able to…
- Apply the CBC electron-counting method to homogeneous catalysts.
- Understand the effect of metal and/or metal oxidation state on catalyst activity.
- Understand the effect of ligand and/or ligand charge on catalyst activity.
- Understand the differences between microwave and conventional heating.
Topics Covered:
Related activities:
Implementation Notes:
I am planning on assigning this LO as a graded in-class group discussion. Students will be given a copy of the article, reading guide, and discussion questions one week in advance. On the day of the discussion, students will be assigned in groups of 2-3. They will then have one lecture period to answer the questions in writing as a group. A portion of their grade (20%) is dedicated to literature discussions (4-6 over the course of the semester). The grading rubric involves 3 possible ratings for each question/answer: “excellent”, “acceptable”, or “needs work”. [This article is among the free-access ACS Editors’ Choice.]
Time Required:
1 lecture period, with materials given one week in advance
Web Resources:
Pages
