Contemporary Use of Click Chemistry and Energetic Functional Groups: Practical Considerations and Competency Assessment in a Senior Undergraduate Lab

Abstract

Abstract Students need to learn about the value of energetic functional groups in order to gain competency in an advanced laboratory setting. By introducing a two-part senior undergraduate laboratory experiment focused around energetic functional groups, students garnered respect for and an understanding of important functional groups used in chemical synthesis. A non-cost-prohibitive experiment utilizing the Sandmeyer reaction and the Huisgen cycloaddition was developed to introduce energetic functional groups, catalytic cycles, and reliable novel crystallization, to senior undergraduate students. With the development of these experiments, an assessment of competency was used, allowing for a more concrete determination of practical skills in a synthetic laboratory setting. Student feedback and instructor commentary were positive toward this novel model for assessing competency of practical skills. Characterization of novel products and crystallization data are included alongside additional details to support experimentation beyond the described procedures. This article describes the synthetic experiment for senior undergraduate students and instructor and student reflections on the learning attained. Intended learning outcomes and a competency rubric are included in the Supporting Information. This experimental design serves as an example of how laboratory instructors can safely include synthetic experiments involving energetic functional groups into their curriculum and use the experiments as a way to assess senior undergraduate laboratory skill proficiency.