Faculty Research Interests Organic Chemistry Faculty Research Interests
Prof. Deb Dillner Organic Synthesis – Marine natural products Overview: Organic Synthesis – Marine natural products 2. Collaboration with Professor Rehill (biology) on a project to isolate and identify tannins from oak leaves. 3. Chemical Education – Atoms First pilot assessment Projects 1 and 2 fulfill Biochemistry Option requirement
Continuing projects: Prof. Dillner 2. Isolation and identification of tannins from oak leaves (Midn. Aidan Lang) – Combines LC/MS 2D NMR spectroscopy
2D NMR spectroscopy
Prof. Jeff Fitzgerald Overview: Synthesis and study of novel functional materials based on tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs). TAP’s are synthetic analogs of metal-containing macrocycles found in hemoglobin, chlorophyll, etc.. On-going projects: 1. Optical Limiting Material 2. CO Sensing Badge transmit ambient light but become opaque to lasers. protect eyes and optical sensors from “laser dazzling.” In collaboration with NRL, we are making and studying novel TAPs. discovered a novel TAP which binds CO with a color change. but does not bind O2. modifying material to enhance CO affinity (increase sensitivity).
Prof. Jeff Fitzgerald Overview: Synthesis and study of novel functional materials based on tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs). TAP’s are synthetic analogs of metal-containing macrocycles found in hemoglobin, chlorophyll, etc.. TAP Synthesis: Precursor Synthesis: Problem needed dienophile, dicyanoacetylene, is not commercially available and is difficult to make on a large scale. Project: Develop a simple, high yield synthesis of dicyanoacetylene or a synthetic equivalent.
Prof. Jeff Fitzgerald Overview: Synthesis and study of novel functional materials based on tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs). TAP’s are synthetic analogs of metal-containing macrocycles found in hemoglobin, chlorophyll, etc.. Project: Develop a simple, high yield synthesis of dicyanoacetylene or a synthetic equivalent. 1/C Jess Lois Results: D New Project: Extend Jess’s work to chloro derivative and explore reactions with other dienes.
(ENS Brice Clairmont, Class of 2016) Prof. Shirley Lin Overview: My background is in organometallic and supramolecular chemistry with a focus on polymers. My scholarly interests are: developing new catalytic transformations (with Prof MacArthur) synthesis of new functional materials C) chemistry education research Project : catalytic synthetic methodologies (fulfills biochemistry concentration) Amidation of aryl chlorides using a current tandem catalytic methodology (ENS Brice Clairmont, Class of 2016) Previous CTC publications: K. A. Cannon, M. E. Geuther, C. K. Kelly, S. Lin, and A. H. R. MacArthur Organometallics 2011 30 (15), 4067-4073 M. M. Coughlin, C. K. Kelly, S. Lin, and A. H. R. MacArthur Organometallics 2013 32(12), 3537-3543
Prof. Joe Urban Overview: Computational chemistry/molecular modeling of organic and bioorganic compounds Projects: Molecular Modeling Studies of Model Peptide Mimics Computational chemistry techniques are being used to investigate the conformational properties of modified peptide compounds. The work involves using molecular modeling software (ex: Spartan) on local computers as well as remote DoD supercomputers.
Professor Craig Whitaker Overview: My research areas focus on materials chemistry and polymer chemistry. Projects: (1) Design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the isolation and destruction of gas-phase nerve agents . (2) Synthesis and characterization of novel polymers that will be used as binders in missile propellants. Current students: Alana Brady (‘17) and Lauren Webb (‘17)