NP
Nicholas Petre
  • Biochemistry, Philosophy (Pre-Medicine)
  • Class of 2013
  • Moline, IL

Nicholas Petre participated in Celebration of Learning

2012 May 7

More than 75 Augustana students from all academic areas shared their advanced research projects on Saturday, May 5, at the Celebration of Learning. This on-campus research symposium annually gives students an opportunity to show off their academic accomplishments to their families and the Augustana community.

Among the students involved:

Nicholas Petre, a senior from Moline, Ill., majoring in philosophy, biochemistry, and pre-medicine. The research was titled Synthesis of 18-Crown-6 and Its Applications as a Phase-Transfer Catalyst for Organic Laboratory. 18-crown-6 is a useful phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) that can solubilize ionic compounds in non-polar organic solvents for a variety of reactions including oxidation and acid-base reactions. We present a practical synthesis of 18-crown-6 that provides a broad range of topics to teach in the organic laboratory. Topics include bimolecular substitution, leaving group transformation, catalysis, and "green chemistry." Additional reactions for the synthesized catalyst, such as dichlorocarbene addition and oxidation of alcohols, are also explored.

Celebration participants presented their research through a poster display or an oral presentation. Many students expounded on the results of their Senior Inquiry, a multiple-term research project required for most academic programs. Other students shared honors capstone projects or student-faculty research findings. Because of the advanced level of research involved, most of the presenters are upperclass students.

Anne Earel and Stefanie Bluemle, Augustana reference librarians and the event's co-directors, said the Celebration of Learning provided an outlet for students to showcase their accomplishments.

Presentations topics varied greatly and included anthropology, biology, physics, geography, gender studies, theater and more.