Organic

We have a long and rich tradition in the field of organic chemistry. Many of our faculty have received recognition for excellence in research, and our graduates have gone on to distinguish themselves in industrial, academic, and government settings.

Our goal is to provide organic chemistry graduate students with a diversified background, and most importantly, a thorough understanding of the principles. This is accomplished through an excellent offering of formal courses, a vigorous weekly seminar program, and outstanding research opportunities.

Our students use an excellent assortment of high-tech instrumentation. Our resources in infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, laser spectroscopy, computer facilities for theoretical organic, and X-ray crystallography are state-of-the-art.

Research topics include:

• total synthesis of natural products,
• development of new synthetic methods,
• reaction mechanisms,
• organometallic chemistry,
• heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis,
• studies of biosynthetic pathways,
• organic photochemistry,
• organic reactions in the solid state,
• gas phase ion chemistry,
• peptide synthesis,
• molecular electronics,
• polymer chemistry, and
• theoretical organic chemistry.