Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Synthesis Explorer: A Chemical Reaction Tutorial System for Organic Synthesis Design and Mechanism Prediction

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)

Jonathan H. Chen and Pierre Baldi

Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics and Department of Computer Science, School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697

J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85 (12), p 1699

DOI: 10.1021/ed085p1699

Publication Date (Web): December 1, 2008

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Synthesis Explorer is an interactive tutorial system for organic chemistry that enables students to learn chemical reactions in ways previously unrealized. Accessible online through a user-friendly Web interface, Synthesis Explorer delivers a rich learning experience including dynamic generation of customized multi-step synthesis design and mechanism prediction problems; context-specific feedback; and support for inquiry-based learning through experimentation and interactive dialogue with the system. The system is founded upon a reaction expert system based on over 80 reagent models and 1500 manually-composed reaction patterns, representing the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum. These reaction models confer the system inherent predictive powers enabling it to generate a virtually limitless number of problems and to answer common questions of reactivity, including the inference of complete arrow-pushing mechanisms. Pedagogical experiments in undergraduate classes at UC Irvine indicate that the system can improve average student examination performance by ~10%.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Chemical Education Research

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Computer-Based Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Mechanisms of Reactions

View: Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

Citing Articles

View all 4 citing articles

Citation data is made available by participants in CrossRef's Cited-by Linking service. For a more comprehensive list of citations to this article, users are encouraged to perform a search in SciFinder.

This article has been cited by 4 ACS Journal articles (4 most recent appear below).

Development of an Online, Postclass Question Method and Its Integration with Teaching Strategies
Alison B. Flynn
Journal of Chemical Education2012 89 (4), 456-464
- Development of an Online, Postclass Question Method and Its Integration with Teaching Strategies
  Alison B. Flynn
  Journal of Chemical Education2012 89 (4), 456-464
  A unique method was devised integrating online postclass questions, clickers, a tablet, and active learning strategies in each class. This successful method connected in- and out-of-class learning, provided prompt, regular, and relevant feedback to ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Developing Problem-Solving Skills through Retrosynthetic Analysis and Clickers in Organic Chemistry
Alison B. Flynn
Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (11), 1496-1500
- Developing Problem-Solving Skills through Retrosynthetic Analysis and Clickers in Organic Chemistry
  Alison B. Flynn
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 88 (11), 1496-1500
  A unique approach to teaching and learning problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in the context of retrosynthetic analysis is described. In this approach, introductory organic chemistry students, who typically see only simple organic structures, ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Learning to Predict Chemical Reactions
Matthew A. Kayala, Chloé-Agathe Azencott, Jonathan H. Chen, and Pierre Baldi
Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling2011 51 (9), 2209-2222
- Learning to Predict Chemical Reactions
  Matthew A. Kayala, Chloé-Agathe Azencott, Jonathan H. Chen, and Pierre Baldi
  Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling2011 51 (9), 2209-2222
  Being able to predict the course of arbitrary chemical reactions is essential to the theory and applications of organic chemistry. Approaches to the reaction prediction problems can be organized around three poles corresponding to: (1) physical laws; (2) ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Reaction Explorer:Towards a Knowledge Map of Organic Chemistry To Support Dynamic Assessment and Personalized Instruction
Jonathan H. ChenMatthew A. KayalaPierre Baldi
2010 (), 191-209
- Reaction Explorer:Towards a Knowledge Map of Organic Chemistry To Support Dynamic Assessment and Personalized Instruction
  Jonathan H. ChenMatthew A. KayalaPierre Baldi
  2010 (), 191-209
  Computer-based learning systems enable interactive learning opportunities that are not possible in a traditional teaching setting. We have previously developed Reaction Explorer an interactive tutorial system for organic chemistry, synthesis, and ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links