Jeffrey S. Bland ond Darrell G. Medcalf University of Puget Sound Tocoma, Washington 98416
Marine Natural Product Chemistry and the Interim A novel approach
Recently, many colleges and universities have been turning toward a "4-1-4"semester system to allow increased flexibility and creativity in their curricula ( I ) . The interim period included in this system has made field study possible in many disciplines; chemistry, however, has conspicuously suffered a lack of such possibilities, largely because of the need of laboratory facilities in most chemical programs. This need of a laboratory combined with the fact that any two semester sequence (i.e., sophomore organic) is interrupted rather than enriched by a six-week interim break, has weakened the 4-1-4 program for many chemistry departments. In January of 1974, we tried a new approach toward meeting these objections and exploiting the interim to its full educational potential. An ouiline of the program and results of this cooperative "en. ture between the chemistry departments of the University of Pueet Sound lU1'SJ and the University of Hawaii ( U H J , is theiopic of this report. The recent excellent review articles by Chang (2, 3) generated interest a t UPS in the area of marine natural products. This led to a discussion by faculty and students a t UPS how a firsthand study of this area of natural product chemistry might be achieved. Out of this discussion came the formulation of an integrated interim program which would meet the following objectives 1) Strengthen a student's hackground in organic chemistry, and
particularly natural product chemistry.
2) Demonstrate the interfacingof chemistry and biology.
3) Expose undergraduate students to graduate research. 4) Provide firsthand familiarity with instrumentation such as carbon-13 nmr and high resolution mass spectrometry, which is not normally available in most undergraduate institutions. 5) Provide an attractive and novel field experience far chemistry students The elegant work done in the area of marine natural product chemistry by the groups of Drs. Scheuer and Moore prompted the UPS group to contact the University of Hawaii. The resulting cooperative plan of study is outlined below. The Program
Twelve UPS students were selected. The major prerequisite was the completion of a t least one semester of organic chemistry. However, most students had completed a full year of organic. The structure of the group is shown below. Sophomore Junior Senior 2 2 3 Chemistry majors 2 2 Biology majors Environmental Science majors 1 Upon arrival a t the UH campus, this group was divided and pairs of UPS students selected a project from a number of choices presented by the UH participants. Each project was directed by a UH postdoctoral or advanced graduate student. The UPS students were involved in all phases of the research work including collection, extrac672
/ Journal of Chemical Education
tion, isolation, characterization, synthesis, and biological testing. The list below indicates the range of projects undertaken. Antitumor Constituents of Sea Anemones -~~~~~ The Structure of n Coelenterate Metnholire Search fur an lodoearbun Compound in a Hemichordate Hydrocarbons from Seaweeds Antimicrobial Constituentsaf Marine Sponges The Use of Marine Antimicrobial Substances in Mariculture Algal Origin of Sea Hare Metabolites The laboratory experience was supplemented by weekly detailed group research seminars in which the UPS students participated. In addition, evening lecture and discussion sessions were devoted to a study of Scheuer's bwk on the "Chemistry of Marine Natural Products" (41 and the general area of biosynthesis and natural product chemistry (5, 6). Sunday evenings were used for the group to discuss the past week's progress and the following week's research objectives. After three weeks at UH the group traveled to the island of Maui where another UPS interim class was studying coral reef biology. For three days the two groups interacted by exchanging experiences and by giving individual reports of their month's work. Upon returning to the mainland each member of the UPS group wrote a comprehensive report of their progress and of the research necessary to complete their projects. Finances The cost of this interim to each student was $525.00. This included travel, meals, transportation, and lodging expenses. The University of Puget Sound added $500.00 for supplies. The UH Chemistry Department and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology furnished physical facilities, equipment, and supplies. The Scheuer and Moore research groups provided the tutorial manpower and a spectrum of on-going projects. In the future years this and similar programs could be improved if financial aid were available so that highly qualified but less affluent students could participate, e.g., in the marine area, the National Sea Grant office might well consider it a worthwhile effort to expand marine education a t the undergraduate level. Acknowledgment The authors would like to thank ~ r s .Scheuer and Moore for their generous donation of time and hospitality. Their efforts were greatly responsible for the success of this program. Literature Cited
York, 1913. ( 5 ) Bu'lack. K . , "Biaynthenia of Natural Pmduc~,"McGrau~Hill. New York, 1965. ( 6 ) Bador, H.. "Marine Pharmacology." The Williams and Williams Co..
M.
Balfimam. 1969.
