Cheryl M. Mascarenhas
Aug 9, 2013
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0
Influential Citations
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Citations
Journal
Journal of Chemical Education
Abstract
A two-step synthesis of the compound β-citronellyl tosylate is described. The final product, synthesized by the reduction of β-citronellal with sodium borohydride followed by a solvent-free tosylation, is used as a perfume precursor and additive to laundry detergent. This project can be performed in two weeks in a typical second-year organic chemistry teaching laboratory. It exposes students to perfume chemistry, a topic not typically discussed in an organic chemistry course. Moreover, the solvent-free tosylation step of the reaction leads pedagogically to a discussion about green chemistry.