So, I would like to stress I am not trying to get you to do my work for me, just asking for ideas and such.
For my organic chemistry lab we are supposed to propose a 3-step synthesis of a chemical. The proposed synthesis is supposed to be supported by journal articles showing the proposed steps.
so, does anyone have any awesome ideas for molecules responsible for particular scents (spearmint, strawberry, banana, things like that). Or that have some other interesting property. A pheromone? anyway.
Ideally it should not be deadly poisonous, and should be a solid at room temperature.
K, just curious to get some ideas for things to try to look up how to synthesize.
Posted by neo-dragon (Member # 7168) on :
Esters are responsible for fruity scents. Try looking up "ester synthesis" or "esterification". It should only take all of 5 minutes to find out the steps involved.
They're not solid at room temp though. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
No, they're liquids.
It's a fun synthesis, though.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
quote:so, does anyone have any awesome ideas for molecules responsible for particular scents (spearmint, strawberry, banana, things like that). Or that have some other interesting property. A pheromone? anyway.
This is a sitcom waiting to written.
--j_k
Posted by Starsnuffer (Member # 8116) on :
Alas, pheromones haven't been found in humans. It could be a sitcom about insects or something, though...
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
And most pheromones are not solids at room temperature either.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Why do you want it to be solid at room temperature? Is this part of the assignment or a personal preference?
Artificial banana flavor (isoamylacetate) is a common synthesis done in undergraduate labs but its only one step synthesis and its a liquid at room temperature.
In fact I think you'll find that most esters are made in a one stop synthesis unless you have to first synthesize the acid or the alcohol.
BTW, scents, pheromones and anything that acts on a person in vapor phase, has to have a significant vapor pressure at room temperature, which usually rules out the possibility that they will be solid at room temperature.
If you want something that is solid at room temperture but has interesting affects on humans, I'd go for something with analgesic properties like N-acetyl-para-aminophenol.
[ January 23, 2009, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)