A Research-Led Undergraduate Group Mini-Project: Optimizing the Use of Polymethylhydrosiloxane for Stereoselective Ketone Reduction

A four week undergraduate group mini-project that introduces upper-division undergraduate students to sustainable synthesis, reaction optimization, and quantitative NMR spectroscopy is described. Students work as a team to optimize the stereoselective reduction of substituted cyclohexanones using polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). Through a scaffolded progression, the project emphasizes research-led practice with student autonomy and cooperative learning while also addressing sustainability goals by replacing traditional hydride reagents with a safer, greener alternative. Students prepare an assessed individual research report that were subjected to a thematic analysis that reveals students’ growing awareness of green chemistry considerations, including solvent selection and waste metrics. Evaluation of student feedback over four cohorts demonstrates high levels of project engagement with students reporting increased confidence in experimental design and appreciation for the real-world challenges of chemical research. The project offers a flexible and replicable model for embedding sustainability, autonomy, and authentic research experiences into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum.