Microwave technology has become a common tool for chemical synthesis and many academic institutions are incorporating microwave-assisted experiments into their teaching and research labs. Early introduction to innovative instrumentation, such as microwave reactors, teaches students to embrace ideas on the cutting edge of chemistry, better preparing them for technologies they will encounter in their careers.
This workshop will begin with a review of microwave theory, provide a pedagogical comparison of both single and multi-mode technologies available for the teaching lab, and highlight several examples of experiments that have been adapted for microwave technology with an emphasis on green chemistry principles. Participants will then run a reaction in both microwave technologies to gain a hands-on understanding of how microwave-assisted chemistry can fit into any teaching lab. This workshop will be 90 minutes long.