OVERALL: 93/100 Presentation: 9/10 Crystallization of Oxobis(2,4-pentanediono)vanadium(IV) via Reduction of Vanadium(V) Oxide

Arya Stark Instructor: Dr. Scott Oliver TA: Yashar Abdollahian Chem 151L, Section 01C Abstract. In this experiment, oxobis(2,4-pentanediono)vanadium(IV) is synthesized from a mixture of vanadium(V) oxide, sulfuric acid, acetylacetone, and ethanol. The reaction took place over heat, and came to completion when the original mixture turned blue. The solution was then filtered, neutralized, and recrystallized with the aid of chloroform to yield a turquoise powder. The final product was dried and weighed, then analyzed via IR spectroscopy. Yield was relatively high at 10.41 grams, or 71.4 % of the theoretical yield. Introduction Vanadyl acetylacetonate, or oxobis(2, 4-pentanediono)vanadium(IV) by the IUPAC naming system, is a deep blue crystal with several applications beyond the scope of this experiment. A recent study used this compound to catalyze stereoselective synthesis of βenaminoesters and β-enaminones. These molecules are important building blocks in biologically active compounds, such as peptides, and are also useful in research due to their stability at physiological pH. In addition to acting as a good catalyst for this synthesis, vanadyl acetylacetonate is particularly desirable over other potential catalysts due to its low cost, low toxicity, and ability to dissolve in organic solvents. 1 In addition to having a variety of chemical uses, a recent study found that vanadium(IV) acetylacetonate may have medical applications as Comment [YA1]: 8/10