The Department of Chemistry is purchasing a high performance liquid chromatograph and ultracentrifuge for use in a collaborative project between students enrolled in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and instrumental analysis. Organic chemistry students prepare acetanilide and three deriatives, and determine the appropriate HPLC conditions for their separation; students in biochemistry study the hydroxylation of acetanilide by rat liver microsomes using the developed HPLC conditions to determine the relative amounts of the various isomers produced; finally, the instrumental analysis students conduct a structural analysis via the technique of gas chromatography/mass spectrometery. The project demonstrates the interrelationships between chemistry subdisciplines and the need for cooperation among scientists with expertise in different areas.
