[unknown_analysis]

Hi chemists!
Do you have something to suggest that we can synthesize in an undergraduate organic lab? It must be something that is less researched, or not very popular. The compound must also have significance such as explanation of a difficult or interesting reaction mechanism, useful applications in different fields, etc. The last time, we synthesized azo dyes. This year, we're planning chlorophyll or triclocarban. But we couldn't decide, so I guess you can help suggest anything? Any experiences? I know there are hidden mysteries in organic synthesis, and that's what we want to explore but we're out of ideas!  Thank you for your *delete me*

[Honclbrif]

Synthesis of chlorophyll sounds like an undertaking of Woodwardian proportions. If you're interested in that general ring structure, I'd try something like porphryns or phthalocyanines. They seem pretty straightforward and are usually pretty colors to boot.

If exotic mechanisms are your thing, I'd go through a named reactions book and find one which seems interesting. If its structures you're after, I'd leaf through the Merck Index until one pops out at you.

[CaverKat]

What's the time frame for the experiments, what level undergraduate and can you leave experiments overnight?

[unknown_analysis]

How about synthesis of imidazole piperazine? Just another suggestion by a friend. Though I couldn't find any article leading to their synthesis.

What's the time frame for the experiments, what level undergraduate and can you leave experiments overnight?

The project could be for a week and yes, we can leave experiments overnight. What'd you suggest?

Synthesis of chlorophyll sounds like an undertaking of Woodwardian proportions. If you're interested in that general ring structure, I'd try something like porphryns or phthalocyanines. They seem pretty straightforward and are usually pretty colors to boot.

Isn't chlorophyll a kind of porphyrn? Sorry if I am mistaken, I still don't have much knowledge about it.

If exotic mechanisms are your thing, I'd go through a named reactions book and find one which seems interesting. If its structures you're after, I'd leaf through the Merck Index until one pops out at you.

It's both. So I really don't know where to start. Thanks for the replies.

[CaverKat]

Hantzch stuff:
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed046p694?prevSearch=Hantzsch&searchHistoryKey=

Scorpionates (I found this quite enjoyable):
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed082p1715?prevSearch=scorpionate&searchHistoryKey=

Paal-Knorr Pyrrole synthesis, see http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed069pA313.1?prevSearch=paal%2Bknorr&searchHistoryKey=

and

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed073p986?prevSearch=paal%2Bknorr&searchHistoryKey=


Vilsmeier Stuff (the rest of it you can navigate to from this page, although I'm not sure of the suitability of most of this for an UG lab...):
http://malaria.ourexperiment.org/near_neighbours/1065/Preparation_of_25dimethyl14trifluoromethylphenyl1Hpyrrole3carbaldehyde_ZYH_21.html