Learning Green Chemistry Principles by Comparing Three Synthetic Routes to a Copper-NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) Complex
Contributors
Summary
This resource links to a recent laboratory experiment published in the Journal of Chemical Education by Francis Bru and Catherine S. K. Cazin, highlighting green chemistry principles by comparing three synthetic routes toward a Copper N-heterocyclic carbene complex. It includes the mechanochemical synthesis using a planetary mill and assessments of several green chemistry metrics, including atom economy, environmental factor, mass intensity, reaction mass efficiency, optimum efficiency, and Green Star analysis.
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Details are provided in the article. Standard personal protective equipment is required. Several solvents are flammable and toxic. Toluene may damage organs, and dichloromethane is toxic. Copper salts can be harmful and irritants, and the toxicology of their NHC complexes has not been thoroughly investigated.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
Performed twice with 34 students at Ghent University, Belgium
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