Synthesis of Isopentyl Acetate

Report

The lab report for this experiment introduces the pseudo-journal article format.

Detailed instructions on how to compose your report are located in the Appendices section of this manual under Reports. Use the template within the Moodle assignment as a guide for the appropriate level of detail, report structure, and formatting. In particular, the information discussing how to format an experimental section in the Reports appendix will be very helpful.

For the supporting data in this experiment, include the following figures in your report:

  1. GC of the product (label the injection point, product and if applicable any impurities or starting material present and note the chart speed)
  2. IR of the product: full spectrum (4000 to approximately 500 cm-1)
  3. 1H NMR of the product: full spectrum (5 to -0.5 ppm) (peak picked, integrated, and referenced)
  4. 1H NMR of the product: expansion of the multiplet region from 1.85 to 1.35 ppm (peak picked, integrated, and referenced)

Please name your lab report file using the following format:

Student Number_Experiment2.pdf (replace Student Number with your own student number)

The lab report is due the week of October 28th, 2024 by noon on your lab day. For your lab report, if you would like directed feedback please include your question(s) at the end of the report e.g. how do you calculate J values?

Journal-style lab reports

The report follows the same format and conventions used by the articles published in the popular Journal of Organic Chemistry (consult the appendix, How to Write Lab Reports for more information). This journal is just one of several journals that publish the results of new scientific investigations in organic chemistry. It serves as a good model for our reports because it has attracted an international audience of authors and readers and is considered one of the more influential journals in this field.

Every scientific journal defines a set of editorial conventions that scientist authors must follow in order to get their manuscripts considered for publication. Generally, these conventions include a terse writing style, use of specific abbreviations and symbols, and adhering to strict journal-specific conventions for the presentation and formatting of experimental data.

The lab report for this experiment introduces the conventions for writing a procedure, organizing and formatting experimental data, and displaying characterization data. Some additional writing tips:

  • Instructions for calculating % yields and e-factors can be found in the Calculations appendix.
  • Instructions for reporting spectroscopic parameters with appropriate abbreviations and numerical precision can be found in the How to Write Lab Reports appendix. The sample report provides one entry for each type of spectroscopy that is correct as written. If you can follow this style, do so. If you need more guidance, check the appendix or ask an instructor.
  • Proofread. Double-check your calculations. Journal editors are not tolerant of author mistakes. Neither are the 201/202 graders. They will be looking over your report very carefully to make sure that you have used the correct format and conventions, replaced wrong/inappropriate information with correct (and correctly calculated) information, and based your report on the information you recorded in your lab notebook.