Development of a Large-Enrollment Course-Based Research Experience in an Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory: Structure–Function Relationships in Pyrylium Photoredox Catalysts

Abstract

Despite the recognized effectiveness of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), there are few examples of the development of a CURE-based course in a large-enrollment undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory. Herein, we describe the development and implementation of a series of undergraduate laboratory experiments centered around the synthesis and characterization of pyrylium salts in the context of photoredox catalysis. Pre- and post-survey data regarding the CURE features of collaboration, discovery, iteration, and student project ownership also highlight the strengths of the CURE implementation in this large-scale lab course.