Getting My Hands Dirty

They have actually allowed me to touch a couple of the instruments! On Friday I conducted an ECD scan and some ORD measurements on a compound called hibiscus acid disodium salt. This compound is very similar to the compound that I will be doing my project on this summer. Both molecules have two carboxylic acid groups. In the disodium salt molecule, the hydrogens on the carboxylic acids have each been replaced with a sodium molecule. In the molecule I am studying I will conduct an esterification to convert the hydrogens into methyl groups. The figure below shows the compound I will be working on this summer. The boxed hydrogens are the ones that are being replaced. (I copied the image from a Science Direct article called Chiral gamma-butyrolactones related to optically active 2-hydroxycitric acids) The purpose of this esterification is to protect the the molecule from undergoing reactions with any of the solvents used that would result in configurational changes.

Tomorrow, I will begin my hands-on experience with the VCD instrument. Liquid Nitrogen here I come! The photo above, taken by my mentor at the conference, displays the VCD instrument. The white cylinder contained within the plastic box is a dewar. (I'm sorry that it is kind of difficult to see.) Liquid nitrogen is poured into that dewar and used to cool the detector for up to 12 hours. On Tuesday, I will be going to Dr. Rizzo's lab to work with one of his post doctors. With the post doctor's close supervision, I will be conducting the esterification reaction. From what I understand the esterification is a fairly standard procedure, but one of the compounds being used is highly flammable and a scratch in the glass could potentially cause the compound to spark. Who ever said science wasn't exciting!

This weekend was jam packed with country music and free stuff. The CMA Country Music Festival was held in Nashville this weekend and it was quite the event. There are multiple stages where small name bands put on free concerts all day and at night if one had tickets they could attend the big name concerts held at LP Field. Us poor REU students decided to stick with the free concerts and the free goods. All day long local vendors set up stands down 2nd street handing out free samples. I received dog treats, Manwich sandwiches, and everything in between. I also saw Joe Nichols, a fairly big name country star that I like, play on one of the free stages. My boots made their premiere on Friday night, but I decided not to wear them on Saturday or Sunday. Partly because they still need to be broken in, but mostly because it was so warm! To try to combat the heat, the festival organizers placed mister statations throughout the town. Basically, you stand under a white tent and have mildly cold water lightly sprayed all over you for as long as you desire. It may not sound enticing now, but in ninety degree weather it feels like the only escape!

Well, tomorrow it's back to the grind. I'm looking forward to going over some calculaitons with my mentor and learning how to use the VCD instrument. It's going to be an exciting week. Hope everyone enjoys their weeks wherever they are. Happy birthday to all my family members! My mom's and my brother-in-law's birthday was last Monday, my twin cousins turned 20 today, my dad and both my sisters will be celebrating their birthdays tomorrow, and my nephew EJ will be turning 2 on Tuesday. There are a few more family birthdays in June, but I'll be sure to mention them as the arrive. I'm sorry I can't make all the celebrations and I love and miss you all!