Sample Quiz for the Synthesis of a Cockroach Pheromone Experiment

 

1) What are some advantages of using an insect pheromone over traditional insecticides? (Traditionally, insects were exterminated using mass amounts of insecticides. This is not ideal because most insecticides are dangerous for other animals, insects, and humans. By synthesizing a pheromone, you can target specific insect species and lure them into traps etc.)

  1. less chemical need be applied
  2. targets a specific insect, rather than both good and bad insects
  3. can be used as a lure into a trap, thus requiring very little chemical
  4. all of the above

2) Which chemical used in the experiment has a noxious odor that should be contained in the hood?

  1. methylene chloride
  2. acetonitrile
  3. isovaleryl chloride
  4. dimethoxybenzyl alcohol

3) What is the function of pyridine in the first step of the synthesis of a cockroach pheromone?

  1. it reacts with the 2,5-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol
  2. it is the solvent
  3. to slow the reverse reaction of diphenylmethane to benzophenone
  4. it is a weak base that bonds with the HCl formed in the reaction

4) The oxidizing agent used in this reaction is:

  1. hypochlorous acid, formed by the reaction of bleach and acetic acid
  2. ceric ammonium nitrate, or CAN, (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6
  3. nitric acid, HNO3
  4. hydrogen peroxide, H2O2

5) Be sure that you can answer study problems 1 and 2 in the Lab Manual (p. 77), concerning the synthesis of esters by both nucleophilic acyl substitution and Fischer esterifications.

Answers.