dild by:
WALTER A. WOLF Colgote University Hamilton, New York
The Hypothetical Synthesis of Adrenaline: The Preparation and Properties of Amines. Robert A. Schambach Whittier College Whittier. California. 90608 An examination of several hypothetical ways to synthesize adrenaline may advantageously he used as the basis of a lecture on the preparation and properties of amines. The specific methods of amine preparation which are incorporated into this lecture are: alkylation to form primary, secondarv and tertiarv amines. and anarternarv ammonium salts, the Gabriel s$thesis,the reduction ofnitro groups, azides, nitriles and amides, the reductive amination of carbony1 'groups, and the ~ o f f m a n nand Curtius rearrangements. By using the synthesis of adrenaline as a basis from which to discuss the preparation of amines, the instructor has observed an increase in student interest, as well as the awakening of an appreciation for the problems associated with the synthesis of biologically important compounds. Due to the fact that several possible synthetic pathways are developed, the lecture scheme is applicable for use with most current organic textbooks, and i t will not suffer should some of the above mentioned preparations be omitted. A complete outline of the lecture is available upon request.
A Non-Lecture Approach to Organic Chemistry Ernest A. Harrison, Jr. and Aline M. Harrison The Pennsylvania State Uniuersity-York Yorh, Pennsyluania 17403
Campus
We have replwed tradi~ionallectures in organic chemistry with discussion and orohlem-sol\,ina sessions in which students and i n s t r u c t ~ r ~ ~ a r t i c ijo&ly. ~ a t e The material normally copied dutifully by the student during a lecture (his "notes" for the course) are pre-written by the instructor and mimeographed copies passed out a t the first class. At that time the student is told he must write out and hand in one written copy of successive 6-page portions of the notes at each class meeting. The copied notes correspond to the "lecture" for that day, and one-third of a class period is used for discussion of these. The remaining time is used to work previously-assigned problems varying in difficulty from simple drill to more thought-provoking questions. T o prepare students for the rude shock of "no lecture," a oortion of the first meetine is devoted to discussine imdieations of such an approach. I t is emphasized that t i e notewriting requirement is designed to force them to consider 654 / Journal of Chemical Education
(hopefully, to study) the "lecture marerial" beforehand to find the w i n s thev don't understand. and then to formulate thei;questions-accordingly. An attempt is also made t o drive home the ~ o i n that t thev must work the vrohlem assignments prior to class and must participate actively in the discussion if efficient use is to he made of class time. Impact of these requirements, as indicated hy class performance, seems to vary in direct proportion to the GPA of the class. The number of problems assigned seems best determined by the capabilities of an individual class. Sets of Framework Molecular Models are made availahle to each student. All exams are closed-hook, in-class exams. For 5 years the class has been polled a t the first exam and it has been found that, on the average, 'Ks preferred this system over the lecture approach. Further information is available upon request.
Comic Books-Another Visual Aid in Teaching Chemistry. Charles E. Carraher, Jr. Uniuersity of South Dakota Verrnillion, South Dakota, 57069. Many of us grew up with a t least a casual contact with comic hooks. Whatever our present view of them may be, they are popular with today's high school and college students and can he used effectivelv in introducine certain chemical topics. For instance. I have used color slides of ~ e r t i n e n comic t hook covers which contained mention of the topic to he covered. Thus as the topic of polymer chemistry is begun, a slide of Plastic Man doing his contortions is shown to catch the attention of and to offer a familiar bridge t o the students. For thermodynamics there is Energy Man; the cover of issue 2 tells of a conflict between Energy Man and the Entropy Twins (order and disorder). For lectures concerning metals one has the Metal Men, and for alloys there is Superman-the "Man of Steel"-and Doc Savage-the "Man of Bronze". Lectures on chemical reactions can begin with slides of Rusty (rust), Sandman, and for sheer number of elements and compounds mentioned, the innumerable Metamorphc. Nuclear, Organic and Water chemistry each has their heros, while for simply getting the name of science on the screen we have Captain Science, Mr. and Mrs. J. Evil Scientist and Science. One of the best dialogues about the mistaken overemphasis of science is found in issue 2 of Captain Venture and the Land Beneath the Sea where a "mad" scientist. as he is escaping Captain Venture, yells hack that science is All, Science Conauers All, it has All the answers to everv moblem. A more complete listing of relevant issues is a;ailahle upon request.
