POLYMER CHEMISTRY RESEARCH (Chem. 430)

Dr. Robert Kopitzke

Introduction:  What is Research

Research is not just spending time in the lab running reactions and working them up.  Research engages the brain.  If you just want to come to lab and be told what to do and how to do it, you do not want to do research.  The quality of your research experience will depend on your willingness to think about what you are doing.  Research involves problem solving.  This is your chance to try and apply the principles and techniques that you have been learning over the last several years.  Research involves library work.  If a reaction is not working, you will make better use of your time by doing some digging in the library than by “throwing” another reaction on to see if it works.

Having said all of this.  I do not expect you to be fully independent researchers.  I expect you to come and see me and to ask questions.  Think about things first, then come and talk to me.  Also talk to the other students in the lab.

Methods:  How to do research – A few guidelines.  (see Trouble-shooting attachment)  The book, “advanced practical organic chemistry” by J. Leonard et. al. is a very useful reference for techniques and how to do research.  I have a copy of this book, which stays in my office.  I may get a second copy for the lab, or you might consider getting your own.

1.)  Label all samples!!!!

2.)    Never just throw a reaction together quickly to see if it works.  If it is worth doing, it is worth doing carefully.  I would much rather have you run one reaction carefully than three haphazardly.

3.)    If possible check the purity of starting materials before you use them in a reaction.  Do not assume that something is pure just because it comes from a reputed company.  NMR and IR are two good techniques to use for this.

4.)    If you are following a literature reaction using a different substrate and you have difficulties, consider running the reaction on the substrate used in the article.  This should act as a check on technique.  (This assumes that the authors and the article are correct and the experimental information given is complete.)  In general you are better off following a procedure from a highly thought of journal (e.g. JACS, JOC, Macromolecules) than from an obscure one (journal of unimportant results).

5.)    Always monitor your reactions (e.g. TLC, GC/MS).  Do not just throw a reaction together, let it run for a set amount of time, then come back in a day and work it up.  (see chapter 9 in advanced practical organic chemistry)

6.)    Always right down what you are doing as you are doing it.  This includes observations as well as amounts, set-ups, times, temperatures, etc.  Remember, you are no just doing this research so that you can write a final report.  Hopefully, your efforts will lead to publications, presentations, fame and fortune.  I (and other students) will be using your procedures after you are gone.  Always include a date in your entries.

7.)    Always work safely!  Follow the standard safety rules of this university and department.  If you are unsure of something, ask.  If you are trying a new procedure, or using an unusually hazardous reagent, let someone know, or better yet, have someone (like me) in the lab.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying yourself in the lab, listening to music or talking with a friend, but you need to use good judgment and know when to give your full attention to your reaction/procedure.  You will have access to keys so that you can come in after hours and check on reactions, run spectra, etc..  Do not come in late at night or on the weekend and start a hazardous reaction or do tricky workup.  ALWAYS discuss after hours work with me before you do it.  

8.)  FINISH EXPERIMENTS!!!  Calculate % yields.  Collect and interpret all appropriate spectra and organize them in a clearly labeled folder.  Reach a conclusion after each experiment - even if that conclusion is "this was a complete bust because I I through away the wrong fraction".  The conclusion will serve as a very useful record of the results of your experiments which will help you when you write.

9.)  Never get rid of any portion of a reaction/workup until you are sure that you have recovered the right stuff.

10.)  Label everything!!!!

Expectations:  What do I need to do for these credits?

1. Final Report.  A final written research report is required for any student taking Chem. 430.  At the end of your research you will be required to hand in a final report that conforms to American Chemical Society standards.  This report will include the following sections:  abstract, introduction, experimental, results and discussion, conclusion and references.  Only one final report is due for your research – you do not need one each semester (see below)  You should expect to submit at least two versions of this final report before it is accepted, so plan to start writing this in the middle of your last semester of research.  Both a written report and the computer file(s) must be submitted.
2. Progress Reports.   A progress report is due at the end of each semester that you are doing research.  This will typically include the completed experimental protocols for your work (reactions) as well as a brief analysis of the results from the semester and discussion of future work.  If you are spending a semester doing library work, the format will be a summary and discussion of your findings.  The experimental section should conform to ACS guidelines.  You should consult an ACS journal (Macromolecules or Organic Chemistry) for examples of these.  Portions of these progress reports will be compiled and used as the major part of your experimental section in your final report.  These progress reports are useful because they help you get some of your writing done ahead of time, but they are also important because they force you to evaluate what you have done the past semester and to realize what you have not done.  The characterization folders for any completed materials should also be turned in at the end of the semester (you should keep copies)
3. Research Proposal.  Each of you will be expected to write a proposal for undergraduate research funds.  These awards can be for up to $500.  This is good experience for you and it looks good on your resume.  It also helps to supplement departmental funds, since we do not have enough money to pay for lots of expensive glassware or chemicals.  My expectation is that all of you will work on this proposal this spring and submit for funding for next fall.
4. Meeting presentation.  An important part of research is the communication of results.  It is expected that each student will present their research at a scientific meeting.  This may be at a state, regional or national meeting.  Since all have you have indicated that you will be doing research through the spring 2007 semester, you should plan on presenting at the American Chemical Society National meeting which will be held in Chicago in late March, 2007.  These presentations will be posters, not oral presentations.  The deadline for abstract submittal will probably be sometime this coming November, so we still have some time to get some research done.  You will all be expected to write a student travel proposal to pay for travel, meeting registration and hotel (unless you want to pay for it out of pocket).
5. Hours.  There is no set number of hours required for Chem. 430.  Times and hours are determined by students and faculty together.  I expect you to work a minimum of one morning or afternoon per credit in addition to the time you spend in the library or writing or preparing for the lab time.  By agreeing to do research with me you have indicated that you are serious about producing results and putting in the effort to do so.
6. Lab Cleanliness.  You are expected to clean up after yourselves.  I do not expect you to do my dishes when I run a reaction, so do not expect me to do yours.  Currently we do research in ST-B5, but this coming semester you should expect that at least some of you will move up to the new research lab (NSB389)
7. Notebook.  You are expected to keep careful records of your work in lab.  This is done by keeping a laboratory notebook and files with all characterization data.  This is important enough to have its own page.

Grades:  Your grade is based on meeting the seven expectations listed above.