The Universal Mass Function and its Applicability to Organic Molecules

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 multi-step organic synthesis. The Universal Mass Function (UMF) states that cosmic objects are in direct relation to each other and suggests that massive objects are much rarer than objects with lower masses. As a result, the following research aims to examine if the UMF theory is applicable to the field of organic chemistry, specifically to the yield prediction. The primary reaction conducted was completed in an aprotic environment. This reduction was performed on several different ketone derivatives with varying molecular masses. Following the UMF theory, our results should indicate a larger percent yield with the compound of the highest molecular weight. Preliminary results from previous semesters did suggest that there were higher percent yields gathered from cyclohexanol, with an average value of 22.19%. Results also showed lower percentage yields with cycloheptanol, 12.27%, and an even lower value of cyclooctanol, 5.25%. Ultimately, additional experiments were conducted this semester with different ketone derivatives to further confirm the initial relationship observed.