A Green Starting Material for Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution for the Undergraduate Organic Laboratory

Traditional experiments in the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory involve the use of hazardous organic materials. Substitution of alternative green procedures wherever possible reduces organic waste and allows students to consider the need for environmentally sound chemistry. A green electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction (EAS), nitration of tyrosine, has been developed for use in the undergraduate laboratory. This reaction allows students to consider the varied aspects of EAS including activating and deactivating groups and o, p, m directors in a green environment. Product characterization can be accomplished by melting point, UV, or NMR.