Experimental Design for the Room-temperature Synthesis of 4-bromochalcone Using Retro-synthetic Analysis and Pure Organic Catalysis

Taking 4-bromochalcone as the target molecule, through the retrosynthetic analysis, the synthesis routes containing 5 Nobel Prize achievements were analyzed from 6 routes. Through comparison, the 2021 Nobel Prize achievement “Pure Organic Catalysis” was finally selected to synthesize 4-bromochalcone at room temperature. A new reagent L-proline was used as a catalyst to synthesize 4-bromochalcone by the aldol condensation of p-bromobenzaldehyde and acetophenone at room temperature. A series of orthogonal experiments were carried out to optimize the reaction conditions. The reaction has the advantages of low cost of raw materials and mild reaction conditions. Through simple reaction, a number of Nobel Prize achievements and pure organic catalysis are introduced into experimental teaching, avoiding “prescribed medicine” teaching, keeping close to the frontier of science, and deepening the study of organic synthesis, which is conducive to cultivating students’ innovative consciousness.