The Universal Mass Function and its Applicability to Organic Molecules
Abstract
The ability to predict the yield when synthesizing an organic molecule is a challenging issue in organic chemistry and a major obstacle when planning a multi-step organic synthesis. To choose the most time, money, and waste efficient way it will be beneficial to be able to predict the yield of the product. The Universal Mass Function (UMF) states that cosmic objects on all scales are in direct relation to each other. It shows that massive objects are much rarer than objects with lower masses. The following research aims to examine if the UMF theory is applicable to the field of organic chemistry, specifically to the ability of predicting the yield of a reaction. The primary reaction chosen for this research to examine that assumption was the substitution reaction of alcohol to different derivatives of alkyl halides in a protic environment. For that reaction, we expect to get the opposite results from that which support the UMF due to what is widely known from the reactivity of the molecules. Our primary results supported the UMF theory; we received a higher yield from the alkyl halide derivative that weighed less although we expected to get less from that derivative based on the reactivity of the molecules. Ratification of the Universal Mass Function on small-scale molecules is significant since in addition to helping overcome a major problem in the field of organic chemistry it would make a huge impact on the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the prediction of the most efficient drug synthesis.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Carmit Alexenberg
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-6-2022 12:00 PM
End Date
4-7-2022 5:00 PM
The Universal Mass Function and its Applicability to Organic Molecules
Alvin Sherman Library
The ability to predict the yield when synthesizing an organic molecule is a challenging issue in organic chemistry and a major obstacle when planning a multi-step organic synthesis. To choose the most time, money, and waste efficient way it will be beneficial to be able to predict the yield of the product. The Universal Mass Function (UMF) states that cosmic objects on all scales are in direct relation to each other. It shows that massive objects are much rarer than objects with lower masses. The following research aims to examine if the UMF theory is applicable to the field of organic chemistry, specifically to the ability of predicting the yield of a reaction. The primary reaction chosen for this research to examine that assumption was the substitution reaction of alcohol to different derivatives of alkyl halides in a protic environment. For that reaction, we expect to get the opposite results from that which support the UMF due to what is widely known from the reactivity of the molecules. Our primary results supported the UMF theory; we received a higher yield from the alkyl halide derivative that weighed less although we expected to get less from that derivative based on the reactivity of the molecules. Ratification of the Universal Mass Function on small-scale molecules is significant since in addition to helping overcome a major problem in the field of organic chemistry it would make a huge impact on the pharmaceutical industry by enabling the prediction of the most efficient drug synthesis.
