To provide students with more and better higher-level skills and greater awareness of the real-world relevance of chemistry

To develop a broad range of C/PBL resources; to increase the number of C/PBL practitioners in HEIs

Resource: Preparation and Evaluation of Inorganic Salts as Catalysts in Alkene Epoxidation Reaction

RSC Roadmap Theme: Raw Materials and Feedstocks       

Level: Late undergraduate (but could be modified to be suitable for early undergraduate)

N.B. This resource will involve laboratory work.

A case study in which learners prepare and evaluate the effectiveness of a range of Mn-salens as catalysts for the epoxidation of alkenes in the context of green chemistry principles.  The students are required to:

• Prepare and characterise a range of Mn-salen complexes
• Evaluate the relative performance of each catalyst in an alkene epoxidation reaction
• Evaluate the relative costs and the environmental impact of alternative procedures that could be used
• Areas of chemistry addressed are: green chemistry, environmental legislation, commercial chemistry processes, organic and inorganic synthesis, NMR structural analysis, homogeneous catalysis

Increased awareness of C/PBL among HEI community;

Increased confidence with C/PBL and use of C/PBL within HEIs;

Graduates with improved higher-level skills