Instruction sheet for students.
CHM556
Experiment 5
The Robinson Annulation Reaction
For background of this experiment, refer to experiment 39, page 680 of the laboratory
textbook: Introduction to Organic Laboratory Techniques, A Small Scale Approach, 3 rd
Edition by Engel, Kriz, Lapman and Pavia.
In this experiment, initially, you will perform a sodium-catalyzed conjugate addition of ethyl
acetoacetate to previously prepared trans-chalcone from experiment 4 via a Michael addition
reaction. Then, the reaction will proceed with a based-catalyzed aldol condensation reaction
and finally, the aldol intermediate will be dehydrated to form an ,-unsaturated ketone as the
final product.
Conduct the experiment using the experimental procedures described in the text. You are
required to utilize the trans-chalcone that you have prepared in your last experiment
(Experiment 4).
At the end of the laboratory session, you need to:
a) Weigh the dry pure product and determine the percent yield.
b) Measure the melting point and obtain a proton NMR spectrum of the product.
Your report for this experiment should include:
a) The chemical equation of this reaction. Also include the mechanism in your
discussion.
b) Percentage yields of the crude and purified products.
c) Interpretation of the NMR spectrum of your pure product. Comments on the success
of the reaction.
Organic Chemistry Section,
Center of Chemistry and Environmental Studies,
Faculty of Applied Sciences,
Universiti Teknologi MARA.