Honors Lectures in Organic Chemistry

Lectures in Organic Chemistry

Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Organic Preparations

Laboratory Methods for Organic Chemistry

Associate Professor of Practice; Member of the Graduate Faculty; Coordinator, Organic Laboratory

CAS: Glyonic Liquids: Sugar-Based Ionic Liquids & Deep Eutectic Solvents from Sustainable Sources for Electrochemical ApplicationsIn this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professors Jeanne E. Pemberton and Steve D. Schwartz of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona are developing a new class of conductive liquids to be used in batteries. These new materials, glyonic liquids, are made from biomass (e.g., sugars) and are biodegradable and nontoxic. The goal of this research is to optimize the conductive properties of these materials by molecular design and tp explore their applications as green, renewable conductive electrolytes in devices used for sensing and energy conversion and storage. The project lies at the interface of organic, physical and materials chemistry. This effort will also support the development of new intellectual property and educational initiatives at the graduate, undergraduate and K-12 science levels, with a particular emphasis on impacting members of underrepresented groups who are a large demographic base in southern Arizona. Outreach activities include the development of a workshop for in-service secondary science teachers on green chemistry and sustainability. Glyonic liquids are a new type of protic ionic liquid structurally based on a rhamnolipid platform as the anion can be paired with a variety of cations. These materials have demonstrated intriguing conductive properties that might make them excellent choices for use in electrochemical devices. Toward that end, this effort involves three specific objectives: 1) synthesis and property tuning of glyonic liquids based on the rhamnolipid structural motif through exploitation of synthetic handles that facilitate retention of these materials in the liquid state at or near room temperature; 2) exploration of electrochemical applications of these glyonic liquids; and 3) computational studies on glyonic liquids to define inter/intramolecular interactions and structure at the nano- and meso-scales as a function of temperature. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

CAS: Glyonic Liquids: Sugar-Based Ionic Liquids & Deep Eutectic Solvents from Sustainable Sources for Electrochemical Applications

NSMDS: Molecular Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Green Glycolipid SurfactantsWith this award, the NSF Division of Chemistry and the Environmental Protection Agency, through a program of Networks for Sustainable Molecular Design and Synthesis, support Professors Jeanne Pemberton, Walter Klimecki, Raina Maier, Robin Polt, and Steven Schwartz in establishing the Network for Bio-inspired Surfactants (NeBiS) at the University of Arizona. This network combines the scientific expertise of four chemists, an environmental microbiologist, and a toxicologist to systematically design, synthesize, and characterize a wide array of new glycolipid surfactants. The recent discovery of a versatile, green synthesis of glycolipids is being leveraged to explore the synthesis of target glycolipids identified by computational methods to possess excellent surfactant properties in solution and at surfaces. The synthetic strategy involves univariate green metrics as quantitative benchmarks for assessment of improvements, including the use of renewable reagents from natural resources. Solution aggregation behavior of surfactants is characterized with a comprehensive suite of techniques to determine critical micelle concentration and aggregate shape and size, in part in collaboration with the National Center for Neutron Research at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). The biodegradability of surfactants is determined, and the toxicity screening of potential candidates is carried out by a variety of chemical and biological assays. Attractive targets are screened in an in vitro model of ocular irritation. This effort will provide new insight into surfactant structure-function relationships and drive advances in molecular design. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids or the interfacial tensions between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants. These critical, ubiquitous chemicals are present in many consumer products and industrial processes, with a multi-billion-dollar market. The toxicity of many conventional synthetic surfactants as well as their persistence in the environment are driving regulatory and consumer pressure to develop greener and more sustainable alternatives.. The ubiquity of surfactants coupled with emerging concerns about their long-term environmental impacts, present a compelling opportunity for advances in molecular design and synthesis of green surfactants, particularly ones based upon renewable materials. While tackling this problem, the Network for Bio-inspired Surfactants is developing significant education and outreach activities. This multidisciplinary effort is a platform for the cross-disciplinary training of a broad spectrum of researchers, from postdoctoral researchers through high school students. Graduate students are co-mentored whenever feasible and are required to include a cross-disciplinary component in their research. Several graduate students participate in semester-long internships with collaborators at NIST. In addition to engaging high school teachers and students in research, new curricular materials focused on green chemistry are being developed with content targeted to undergraduate and high school levels. Outreach activities target K-12 students through the local Science Center, and the local community is engaged more broadly to learn about surfactants and green chemistry through the participation of the investigators in Science Cafés.

NSMDS: Molecular Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Green Glycolipid Surfactants

Hamish Christie

Insertion Guide Device

Variable Solvent Polarity ChromatographyIn this invention, an external stimulus is applied to the stationary phase of liquid chromatography to alter the polarity of the solvent during a separation process. This capability enables improved separations with more efficient use of mobile phase. The chromatographic separation method can be designed with flexible equipment and machine learning.   
 
Background:
Chromatography is a well-established process and is widely used for laboratory chemical separation; however, it is problematic for large scale use. Enhancements in separation efficiency will be useful to many areas of research and industry including:
Pharmaceutical active ingredients
Fine chemicals
Environmental separations
Life sciences
Separations of complex mixtures
 
Applications:
Compound purification and/or chemical separations
 
Advantages:
Improved performance in chromatography separations
Increased resolution
More efficient use of mobile phase
Less waste
Can enable commercial scale separations

Variable Solvent Polarity Chromatography

Variable Stationary Phase ChromatographyIn this invention, an external stimulus is applied to the stationary phase of chromatography to alter the polarity of the stationary phase during a separation process. This capability enables improved separations with more efficient use of mobile phase. The chromatographic separation method can be designed with flexible equipment and machine learning.   
 
Background:
Chromatography is a well-established process and is widely used for laboratory chemical separation; however, it is problematic for large scale use. Enhancements in separation efficiency will be useful to many areas of research and industry including:
· Pharmaceutical active ingredients
· Fine chemicals
· Environmental separations
· Life sciences
· Separations of complex mixtures
 
Applications:
· Compound purification and/or chemical separations
 
Advantages:
· Improved performance in chromatography separations
· Increased resolution
· More efficient use of mobile phase
· Less waste
· Can enable commercial scale separations

KMap

Chemistry & Biochemistry - Science