Crittell, Rachel2023-06-012023-06-012023-04-18https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14446/337782For many years, investigations on nitrogenous heterocycles have been an essential part of organic chemistry due to their widespread use in medications. Our research examines alternative ways to prepare nitrogen-containing heteroarenes while minimizing the formation of unwanted by-products. Many of our target molecules have structural similarities with biologically active compounds that are commonly used for numerous conditions, such as cancer, anxiety, and fungal infections. By optimizing a preliminary procedure from the Bolliger lab, we were able to improve the isolated yields for the iodine-promoted cyclization step. In this presentation, we will discuss the results of our cyclization reaction and discuss possible reaction mechanisms. Ultimately, we hope our research will pave a pathway to novel species with biologically relevant functional groups.application/pdfCopyright is held by the author who has granted the Oklahoma State University Library the non-exclusive right to share this material in its institutional repository. Contact Digital Library Services at lib-dls@okstate.edu or 405-744-9161 for the permission policy on the use, reproduction or distribution of this material.Honors Thesis