1. Faculty Research Interests
Organic Chemistry
Faculty Research Interests

2. 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

3. Continuing projects: Prof. Dillner
2. Isolation and identification of tannins from oak leaves (Midn. Aidan Lang) –
Combines LC/MS
2D NMR spectroscopy

4. 2D NMR spectroscopy

5. 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).

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. (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 (15),
M. M. Coughlin, C. K. Kelly, S. Lin, and A. H. R. MacArthur Organometallics (12),

9. 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.

10. 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)