Professor Luis A. Colón

Izaak M. Kolthoff Lectureship

Luis A. Colón, Ph.D.

SUNY Distinguished Professor

A. Conger Goodyear Professor of Chemistry Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, College of Arts and Sciences

University at Buffalo

Abstract

“Study of diarylethene photochromic compounds”

Diarylethene (DAE)-based compounds have emerged as promising molecules with photo-switchable properties for applications in chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology. These photochromic compounds can undergo photo-reversible transformations between two chemical species, typically between ring-open and ring-closed isomeric structures, by means of light absorption (i.e., photoisomerization); the photo-switching renders isomers with distinct physical and chemical properties. To increase the likelihood of producing a solid-state photoactive material for an application, it may be useful to start with the compound in a specific isomeric configuration (e.g., ring-closed of DAE). This can be accomplished by locking a particular conformation in the liquid phase. The synthetic approach to lock such a conformation involves the irradiation of the molecule with UV light, which results in the production of both isomeric species in solution (i.e., ring-open and-closed) as well as other by products. It is important, therefore, to isolate the coexisting isomeric molecules of these compounds to study their individual characteristics. However, it has been difficult to separate and purify these isomers in yields that allow further studies of these compounds. We have studied the formation of a DAE ring-closed isomer as a function of light irradiation time. This allowed us to establish conditions to maximize the formation of a desired product resulting from the photochemical reaction. An upscaled separation method allowed for the isolation/purification of the individual compounds for further studies. The separated isomers were characterized to confirm the isomeric nature of the compounds. In this presentation, the experimental conditions that allowed isolation of DAE isomers will be discussed as well as the findings related to the formation of the different DAE isomeric species.

Luis A. Colón Graphic 3

Luis A. Colón

Luis A. Colón received the B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, the Ph.D. degree in chemistry from UMASS-Lowell, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University before joining
the Department of Chemistry at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. He is currently a SUNY Distinguished Professor and the A. Conger Goodyear Chair Professor of Chemistry. He also serves as Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences. His current research focuses on the study and characterization of materials for use in separation science and chemical measurements. Of particular interest are the development of chromatographic media for liquid phase separations and the development of new strategies to separate and analyze complex chemical or biochemical sample mixtures (e.g., biofluids, intracellular components, protein digests, and pharmaceutical drugs). He also works on issues that advance diversity in graduate education. His has mentored over 50 graduate students.

Luis Colón is Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He has been awarded the NSF Special Creativity Award, the Benedetti-Pichler Award from the Microchemical Society, the Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medal (ACS- WNY), the EAS Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science Award, and the Dal Nogare Award in Chromatography. Other distinctions include the AAAS Mentor Award, ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, the ACS Stanley C. Israel Award, and the USA Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.

Host: Professor Edgar Arriaga

Start date
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, 9:45 a.m.
End date
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, 11:30 a.m.
Location

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