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Lanthanum and yttrium trifluoromethanesulfonates at 1 mole % concentration, have been found to catalyze a reaction between ammonia and aromatic nitriles to yield symmetrically substituted 2,4,6‐triaryl‐s‐triazines. The generally high yields and relatively mild reaction conditions of this procedure suggest it as an alternative to other aromatic nitrile cyclotrimerization reactions. Of the aliphatic nitriles studied, acetonitrile and cyclopropanecarbonitrile gave good yields of triazine, propionitrile and butyronitrile gave significantly reduced yields of triazines 3b and 3c respectively. Rearrangement of 3a and 3b to alkylated‐4‐aminopyrimidines was observed.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is an important precursor of the major brain metabolites of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid. A new method for the synthesis of DOPAL from piperonal is described. We report for the first time the physical and chemical characteristics of DOPAL. Its importance for research in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease is discussed.

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It is apparent that many advances in chemistry are becoming increasingly dependent upon cross-disciplinary integration. However, chemical pedagogy has been slow to respond to this trend. Most chemistry is still being taught with a discipline-oriented approach, as it has been for at least the last 25 years. While this may have served us well in the past,