College of Science » Chemistry-Seminars

Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ken Hanson, Florida State University 

TBBC 4630 
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: Understanding and Controlling Light Harvesting Structures at Molecule-Metal Oxide Interfaces

by Ken Hanson, Florida State University

Bio: Kenneth Hanson received a B.S. in Chemistry from Saint Cloud State University (2005), his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (2010), followed by an appointment as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2010–2013). His independent research career began in 2013 at Florida State University as a member of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and is affiliated with the Materials Science & Engineering program. His current research interests are in the design, synthesis, and characterization of photoactive molecules/materials with particular emphasis on manipulating energy and electron-transfer dynamics at organic–inorganic interfaces.

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Raul Navarro, Occidental College

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: Regiodivergent Pd-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling Reactions
by Raul Navarro, Occidental College

Abstract: The palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation (DAA) reaction has proven a robust tool in the synthesis of bioactive small molecules. Existing strategies to engage carbon-centered nucleophiles in DAA chemistry primarily rely on stabilized enolate-based nucleophiles, delivering a range of highly functionalized a-allylated products. In contrast, reports that detail the formation of the regioisomeric cyclopropanation product remain relatively scarce. The Navarro lab recently addressed this limitation by engaging stabilized benzylic nucleophiles in decarboxylative coupling. We recently demonstrated that allyl ester-substituted phthalides undergo efficient allylation in the presence of a Pd/Xantphos catalyst. Interestingly, when Xantphos is replaced with the diamine ligand N,N,N,N-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine (TMCDA), a cyclopropanated phthalide is isolated in good yield and high regioselectivity. We aim to significantly expand on these preliminary findings by applying our DAA system to access a variety of biologically relevant motifs, and seek to exploit the reactivity Pd/TMCDA catalyst to develop a decarboxylative cyclopropanation of phthalide- and isoindolinone-based nucleophiles. Our work constitutes a significant expansion of the breadth of Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling, establishing access to a wider family of bioactive structural motifs.

Host: Matt Sigman

Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Robert Lazenby, Florida State University

In-Person Seminar
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Title: Multifunctional electrochemical probes using aptamers for chemical sensing and imaging
by Robert Lazenby, Florida State University

Abstract: "Single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers, also known as synthetic antibodies, are widely used in sensing owing to their high selectivity and the range of detectable target analytes. A major challenge, however, is the fabrication of aptamer-based sensors with sufficiently small dimensions to enable localized, spatially resolved measurements in complex biological environments. In this talk, our efforts to integrate aptamer-based sensing probes with scanning electrochemical techniques to investigate chemical heterogeneity at the single-cell level will be presented. With a focus on probe design and fabrication, we are using self-assembled monolayers of thiolated aptamers on gold nanostructures confined within nanopipettes and on microscale electrode surfaces. These complementary platforms allow real-time monitoring of target analyte concentrations and can be coupled with imaging modalities. By incorporating aptamers into the imaging probes of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), we demonstrate new routes to high-spatial-resolution specific detection, including for non-redox-active species."

Host: Long Luo

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Yitong Dong, University of Oklahoma

In-person seminar
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher

Title: TBA
by Yitong Dong, University of Oklahoma

Abstract: TBA

Host: Minglee Tang

Analytical/Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Jenny Yang, UC Irvine

TBBC 4630
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Jenny Yang, UC Irvine

Abstract: TBA

Host: Long Luo

Organic and Materials Seminar at the University of Utah
with Nobuhiro Yanai, University of Tokyo

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Nobuhiro Yanai

Abstract: TBA

Host: Ming Lee Tang

The Ted Eyring Lecture at the University of Utah
with Christy Landes, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Christy Landes

Abstract: TBA

Host: Connor Bischak

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Yifan Wang, University of Georgia

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: TBA
by Yifan Wang, University of Georgia

Abstract: TBA

Host: Andrew Roberts/Qilei Zhu

The Giddings Lectures at the University of Utah
with Pat Unwin, University of Warwick

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Pat Unwin, University of Warwick

Host: Long Luo
 

The Giddings Lecture at the University of Utah
with Pat Unwin, University of Warwick

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Pat Unwin, University of Warwick

Abstract: TBA

Host: Long Luo

Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University

In-person seminar
4630 TBBC 
4th floor Thatcher

Title: Chemistry for Medicinal Chemistry
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University 

Abstract: Pyridines and diazines are ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, yet there are limits in synthetic methods that can directly functionalize the C–H bonds in these structures. We will show three distinct approaches, using phosphorus, ring-opened intermediates and deconstruction-reconstruction, that enable selective functionalization of these heterocycles into a range of valuable derivatives. A range of C–C and C–Heteroatom bond formations are viable, and the chemistry functions on structures typically encountered in drug discovery programs. Our lab has also performed mechanistic and computational studies of the regioselectivity of these reactions and the phosphorus ligand-coupling processes involved.

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical/ Analytical Chemistry Seminar
with Martin Edwards, University of Arkansas

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Martin Edwards

Abstract: TBA

Host: Henry S. White