Vlog May: Update on Pyrimethamine synthesis

I say set it aside and do some other stuff for the short term unless you're so far behind in the process that it simply wouldn't be worth it.

Roger Lee

Skip it.

Donald W

You can come back to it later. After banging my head against a wall, I just move on to something else and come back later if I have another idea. It was good that you explored the space of reagent possibilities. Maybe try using the reagents and reactants for a different reaction that might be more successful. Maybe it will give you insight into using them. But I guess my advice would be to come back to it later and do something refreshing.

Xekri

Don't give up. Many scientists had setbacks until they got it right.

Bryan Bennica

Re-visit when/if you get more confident it can be done, and maybe even re-do/upload the series in a more condense version if that's worth it. It sucks to fall victim to the sunk-cost fallacy, and if you got other content in mind, might as get them up meanwhile you refresh your perspective on the series... if it's a fail, it's a fail. If not, [insert Nurdrage-Terminator-voice] : "you(I) will be back"

The Ashdale Regiment

Considering your financial comments and that you get paid per vid I say it's time so make more vids. Love your vids so you have been missed. I know how hard projects can hit ya when they fall a part on ya. Just want you to know I'm looking forward to what ever is next!

I was never a huge fan of this series anyway. I'd watch it if you finish it, but I won't mourn it if you don't.

jason black

Less videos per months and better video to find a cheap cure.

I'd say just put the pyrimethamine synthesis on the side and release other videos and content as you would normally, but continue experimenting and testing on the pyrimethamine as time and resources permit, and if you happen across the solution for your current problem then you can switch your focus back on that and everything continues on its merry way. As far as the twitch situation goes, as much as I love chemistry, and would watch probably anything relating to the field that you'd post, like you said real experiments typically don't give the most time efficient results, but you could try it out doing smaller more typical experiments you'd find at something like a high school demonstration, and see if the investment pays off for you.

Just take a break, I found out with my reseach, that when I'm stuck it's best to just do some other stuff, maybe some fun project, that you enjoy. About streaming, I would love to see some basics. Like making simple chemicals, maybe some analytical chemistry, heck I would even watch how you clean your glassware (partly because I suck at that part) Just keep good work!

You tried hard, it didn't work out, move on and make other videos. :) Please don't beat yourself up over it.

You should probably take some off the pyrimethamine synthesis project so you don't burn-off your interest and patience for it, maybe revisit it a a later date using commercially available chemicals at least as proof of concept. As for twich, there are many experiments that could serve as a wider audience entertainment like science fair stuff or two vials of chemicals produce a bucket of foam (foam vulcano for example). But if you feel uninterested in that field you shouldn't be forcing yourself into it.

I'd suggest holding off on the pyrimethamine synthesis until you've got a reasonably solid theory as to why everything you've tried to date has been unsuccessful. I'd prefer a hiatus from the project than you getting frustrated and giving up.

It might be good to try with lab grade chemicals for the synthesis of the pyrimethamine but what about the other step that is left? Can you postpone this step and skip to the next branch and then proceed with the current one with lab grade chemicals. Btw how does the failure manifest ? What is/are the product/s of the reaction? Can we have a video on that with a bit more details :) As far as the twitch goes it might be fun watching glassware being broken in slow mo while playing sirtaki (but that's just my opinion) :)

Firstly as far as twitch goes, I love your idea for showing the setup for your reactions. I've just recently expanded my glassware collection to include a proper glass distillation apparatus and I would really appreciate seeing your setup processes. As it is, every time I set it up I'm terrified of breaking something. I know that I'm a niche viewer in that respect, but I could easily watch you set up an experimental apparatus for an hour or two. Secondly, I fully understand your desire to cut your losses, so to speak, with the pyrimethamine project. That being said I think I would like to see it finished from lab-grade reagents even though that isn't really the goal you set out. I would also much rather you use said lab reagents than having you spend a month pulling your hair out trying to make new reagents from scratch again. Edit: Me no spell good.

I'd love to see the conclusion of the pyrimethamine synthesis, and I'll echo the above comments: is there a way you can prototype the remaining steps using lab-grade reagents?

Regards the live streaming, about the only thing I can think of would be, live stream a lecture, and overlay preëdited video to illustrate the lecture.

Michael Aichlmayr

I'm pretty torn. I enjoy your videos immensely, and I am learning a lot from them. I can tell you would like to finish this. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if it's feasible, but can you temporarily substitute some of the reagents with commercial reagents and, work backwards, or use that to isolate the problem, then replace the commercial reagents one by one?

Michael Aichlmayr

Maybe do kickstarter or similar and say you are trying to torpedo Shkreli - I bet you will be pleasantly surprised by the public enthusiasm for your project

For the pyrimethanmine I'm on the fence, I'd say if you can't think or find any way to progress then well you know how to get htis far so it could be revisited as the others have said. As for twitch how about something like Linus tech tips wan show but for anything that catches your eye, or the other way would be answering some quality questions, either from here or like the king of random with the high liked questions that are of a good quality that don't need an experiment. you could do a V for Vendetta style broadcast in a lab coat and such and I think you can still get Slipknot masks on ebay lol

Christopher

I'm thinking same as Phillip... abt the pyrimethamine...

I agree with Zane, (assuming you can) get lab grade reagents for the step you're up to now, run the reaction with those, and see how it goes, if it works then it would seem the issue is your precursors (and there's potentially some scope to produce more content around how to "fix" those), if it doesn't maybe park it and see if inspiration strikes.

Jrandom Bob

More content Vs. Learning about advanced organic synthesis. Hard decision as I love organic chemistry and pyrimethamine is a really cool chemical so I'm at a loss there. My vote would be to keep trying until the budget runs out. Don't throw it out until it's officially a dead end. As for Twitch TV, chemistry nerds like myself would love just to sit around and see you work but I think it will be more stress than you realize. You have your hands full now and streaming methinks will delay you more than the pyrimethamine already has.

I'd like to see the end of the pyrimethamine synthesis, but I think more released videos would be better. Perhaps put pyrimethamine on the back burner and revisit it in a few months? As for Twitch are there some short experiments you can show off? Perhaps some colourful ones that people can react to or suggest changes. Also given twitch you could probably live stream 8 hours of something refluxing.

Thea Hutchings

Well we already have the pathways to the precursors so I'd say get what you can that's as close to where you are commercially and continue. But also some real quick and small videos along the way.

Zane Gifford