Exploring the Drug Development Process Using Fischer Esterification: An Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory Experiment

A drug discovery project has been successfully implemented into a first-year undergraduate organic chemistry course. In this experiment, students play the role of medicinal chemists in the drug development process, in which they are responsible for synthesizing a small library of salicylic acid and ester derivatives and analyzing the antibacterial properties of their compounds against Escherichia coli, for the purpose of finding a compound with relevant biological activity. By using synthetic techniques, peer collaboration, student-led decision making, and biological activity assessment, students are required to work together and think critically about their results to solve an interdisciplinary research problem.