Research in organic chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill covers a broad range of subjects from natural products synthesis to the study of organic free-radicals with time-resolved EPR spectroscopy. Research is often interdisciplinary and involves science at the frontiers of polymer chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science and bioorganic chemistry. With 10 faculty members in the organic division and a number of faculty from other divisions whose research involves organic chemistry, graduate students find they have a wide range of choices for their doctoral research. Current topics of interest include natural products synthesis, asymmetric catalysis, combinatorial chemistry, chemistry in supercritical CO2, catalytic polymerization, physical chemistry of free radicals, molecular imprinting, molecular recognition and the organic chemistry of nucleic acids. The Organic Division offers the opportunity to study the following topics: |
Synthesis and biological reactions of natural products; peptide synthesis; protein engineering; structure-function studies on polypeptides and proteins; mechanistic and synthetic studies in organometallic chemistry; catalysis using organometallic complexes; nuclear magnetic resonance; kinetics; organosulfur and organophosphorus chemistry; surface effects in chemical behavior; chemistry of reactive intermediates including carbocations, carbanions, carbenes and radical pairs; new synthetic methods including asymmetric synthesis; stereochemistry and conformational analysis; design and synthesis of models for metalloenzymes; epr investigations of electronic couplings in high-spin organic molecules; spectroscopic studies of free radicals; synthesis and characterization of well-defined polymeric materials; synthesis of materials for use in microelectronics; homogeneous and heterogeneous polymerizations in supercritical fluids; synthesis of engineering polymers; molecular recognition. |
| RESEARCH PROJECT | GROUP |
| Mechanistic Investigations of the (a-Diimine)Ni(II)- and Pd(II)-Catalyzed Polymerization of Olefins | |
| New Catalytic Transformations Based on C-H Bond Activation by Rh Complexes | |
| Synthesis of antitumor agent spongistatin | |
| Enantioselective synthesis of complex medium ring ether marine natural products | |
| Investigation of photochemical degradation of beer | |
| Lewis Acid-Promoted Dipolar Cycloadditions of Transient Ylides | |
| Function of silica gel and alumina as a mediator for the oxidation of alkenes, sulfides, and sulfoxides with tert-butyl hydroperoxide | |
| Synthesis of new ligands to be used in mimicking the catalytic activity of metalloenzymes | |
| Investigation of Secondary and Tertiary Interactions in b-Hairpin Peptides | |
| New synthetic methods for cation-olefin reactions, asymmetric catalysis, electrophilic late metal catalysis |
Platinum(II)-Catalyzed 1,6-Diene Cycloisomerizations: Turnover in the Absence of b-Hydride Elimination", W. D. Kerber, J. H. Koh, M. R. Gagné Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 3013-3015.
Pd(II)- and Pt(II)-Mediated Multicyclization Reactions of 1,5- and 1,6-Dienes. Evidence in Support of Carbocation Intermediates", J. H. Koh, M. R. Gagné Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004. 43, 3459-3461.
"Selective Aromatic Interactions in b-Hairpin Peptides", C. D. Tatko, M. L. Waters, J.Am. Chem. Soc.; 2002, 124, 9372-9373.
"Contribution of Aromatic Interactions to a-Helix Stability", S. M. Butterfield, Paresma Patel, M. L. Waters, J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2002, 124, 9751-9755.
"Hydroxylation of an Aliphatic C-H Bond in an Imidazole- Ligated (µ-h2:h2-Peroxo)dicopper(II) Complex"; W. E. Allen, T. N. Sorrell, Inorg. Chem.; 1997, 36, 1732-1734.
"Surface-Mediated Reactions. 8. Oxidation of Sulfides and Sulfoxides with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide and OXONE1" Kropp, P. J.; Breton, G. W.; Fields, J. D.; Tung, J. C.; Loomis, B. R.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2000; 122(18); 4280-4285.
"Time-Resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study of Photoionization of Tyrosine Anion in Aqueous Solution", Christine M. R. Clancy and Malcolm D. E. Forbes, Photochem. Photobiol.; 1999; 69; 16-21.
"Study of the Rotational Barrier in the Hindered Bisphenoxyl A Radical"; Clancy, C. M. R.; Forbes, M. D. E.; J. Phys. Chem. A.; 2001; 105(43); 9869-9872.
"Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Isolaurallene"; Crimmins, M. T.; Emmitte, K. A.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2001; 123(7); 1533-1534.
"Total Synthesis of (±)-Ginkgolide B"; Crimmins, M.T.; Pace, J.M.; Nantermet, P.G.; Kim-Meade, A.S.; Thomas, J.B.; Wagman, A.S.; Watterson, S.H.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2000; 122; 8453-8463.
"Late Metal Catalysts for Ethylene Homo- and Copolymerization”; Johnson, L. K.; Ittel, S. D.; Brookhart, M.; Chemical Reviews; 2000; 100; 1169-1203.
"Mechanistic Studies of Pd(II) Diimine Catalyzed Olefin Polymerizations”; Tempel, D. J.; Johnson, L. K.; Huff, R. L.; White, P. S.; Brookhart, M. , J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2000; 122; 6686-6700.
Department of Chemistry
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Last Updated:
July 24, 2007
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