Integrating Bifunctional Catalysis into Senior Undergraduate Organic Chemistry: A Laboratory Experiment on the Asymmetric Michael Addition Reaction

An organic chemistry experiment designed for senior undergraduates focuses on bifunctional catalysis, a critical yet often omitted topic at the undergraduate level, but essential for advanced studies in chemistry. By utilization of a tertiary amine-thiourea catalyst in the asymmetric Michael addition reaction, the experiment showcases the superiority of bifunctional catalysis over traditional monofunctional approaches. Comprehensive training in designing control experiments, performing flash chromatography, and analyzing results with NMR and HPLC techniques equip students with modern synthetic skill sets. This experiment features easy operation and a relatively short time (4.5 h, including 2–2.5 h reaction time). More importantly, it bridges the educational gap in understanding advanced catalytic mechanisms and techniques in organic chemistry.