aspirin-reflection

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__ student A __ This lab demonstrated the real practicality of the organic reactions that we have been learning about this semester and last. Aspirin is a common household product; I just took one the other day for a headache. In fact, canine aspirin is actually sold over-the-counter at various pet stores even though most veterinarians do not recommend it. Although we did not design our aspirin synthesis reaction ourselves, we used very similar procedures for obtaining our product. The reactants were heated to facilitate the reaction, and the product was recrystallized to remove the impurities (mainly salicylic acid) that remained. The heating and purification was very similar to the procedure we used for the synthesis of the phenoxyacetic acids. In this particular reaction, it was nice to see that our product was fairly pure. The melting point was lowered indicating some impurity left in the product, but our IR and NMR spectra were very clear and it was easy to see that our reaction was successful.

__ student B __ Aspirin is one of the most frequently used painkillers for headaches and other bodily pains. It is sometimes combined with acetaminophen and caffeine to have an agonistic effect, as in the Excedrin headache medicine. Aspirin has many other uses other than as a painkiller. It can act as an anticoagulant by inhibiting platelet activity in the blood (1). This is beneficial to patients who are at high risk for heart attack or stroke, since it helps prevent the formation of clots that could turn into dangerous embolisms or thrombi. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer (2). Aspirin is typically buffered to prevent stomach ulcers due to its acidity. This buffer, and other filler, make up most of the weight of the typical aspirin tablet.

1. Julian DG, Chamberlain DA, Pocock SJ. A comparison of aspirin and anticoagulation following thrombolysis for myocardial infarction (the AFTER study): a multicentre unblended randomized clinical trial. BMJ. 1996 December 7; 313(7070): 1429–1431. = 2. Algra AM, Rothwell PM. Effects of regular aspirin on long-term cancer incidence and metastasis: a systematic comparison of evidence from observational studies versus randomised trials. The Lancet Oncology, Early Online Publication, 21 March 2012 =

__ student C  __ Aspirin was first synthesized nearly 100 years ago. Since then, it has been used worldwide for fevers, pain, and to decrease inflammation. It was a good opportunity to be able to synthesize a compound that we were familiar with in lab. Although most drugs are modified throughout the years to improve effectiveness and decrease side effects, aspirin is one of the few that remains ideal since it was first synthesized. There have been derivatives created from the drug (ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, etc.), but aspirin itself is still commonly used itself despite the creation of these derivatives. It was not known when it was first created, but aspirin was later found to have cardiovascular benefits. By inhibiting prostaglandins, it prevents blood clots and in turn helps those at risk for stroke or heart attack. As a result, aspirin is taken by many on a daily basis to help prevent these conditions.

3. Vainio, H. and Morgan, G. (1997), Aspirin for the Second Hundred Years: New Uses for an Old Drug. Pharmacology & Toxicology, 81: 151–152. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1997.tb02060.x