Date of Award

Spring 6-7-2021

Document Type

Honors Project

University Scholars Director

Dr. Christine Chaney

First Advisor/Committee Member

Dr. Kevin Bartlett

Second Advisor/Committee Member

Dr. Karisa Pierce

Keywords

2-methylbiphenyl, methylbiphenyl, nitration, electrophilic aromatic substitution, toluene, biphenyl

Abstract

Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactions have long been a fundamental addition to sophomore-level organic chemistry classes, allowing students the opportunity to explore the electron donating and withdrawing effects of electrons contained in the substituents of the aromatic reactant. In this paper we present preliminary findings on the nitration of methylated biphenyls using kinetic and regioselective assessments to analyze steric influences on the planarization of 2-methylbiphenyl after EAS nitration. Our preliminary findings show that nitration favors the methylated phenyl ring of 2-methylbiphenyl, indicating that the steric influence of the methyl group restricts planarization of the carbocation intermediate. Furthermore, a competition nitration reaction between biphenyl and toluene provides proof of concept for kinetic assessment of nitration rates that will eventually be applied to 2-methylbiphenyl; this competitive nitration showed that biphenyl nitrates 1.87 ± 0.61 (95% C.I.) times faster than toluene.

Comments

A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degrees in Honors Liberal Arts, Seattle Pacific University, 2021

A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Honors Liberal Arts

Seattle Pacific University

2021

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