Past Seminars & Events

Session 12 abstract
Zoom

Rebecca L. Combs at 9:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Lee Penn
Controlling Size and Aspect Ratio of MOF NU-1000 Using Solvent Identity

Nathan Love at 10 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Kenneth Leopold
A Microwave Study of a Superacid Ion Pair and Applications of an Intelligent Fitting Algorithm

Minog Kim at 10:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Andreas Stein
Three-Dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Mixed Metal Oxide as an Indicator for Monitoring the Stability of ZIF-8

Session 11 abstract
Zoom

Maetzin Cruz-Reyes at 9:30 a.m. 
Advisers: Professor R. Lee Penn & Professor William Arnold
Environmental Reactivity of Akaganeite: Growth and Phase Transformations

Thorn A. Dramstad at 10 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Aaron Massari
Spectroscopic Correlation between the Interfacial Pentacene Deposition Phase and Substrate Temperature

Baoyue Fan at 10:30 a.m.
Advisers: Professor Andreas Stein
Diffusive Formation of Hollow Mesoporous Silica Shells from Core-Shell Composites: Insights from the Hydrogen Sulfide Capture Cycle of CuO@mSiO₂ Nanoparticles

Session 10 abstract
Zoom

Claire L. Seitzinger at 9:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Timothy Lodge
Phase transitions of stimuli-responsive block copolymers in ionic liquids

Celeste Rousseau at 10 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Philippe Bühlmann
Redox Buffers for Calibration-Free Ion-Selective Electrodes

Session 9 abstract
Zoom

Blair Troudt at 1 p.m.
Adviser: Professor Philippe Buhlmann
Development of Analyte-Specific Probes for Self-Assembly onto Graphene and Use in Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensor Arrays

Lun Jin at 1:30 p.m.
Adviser: Professor Philippe Buhlmann and Steven Koester
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides and Lateral Heterojunctions

Michael H. Hodny at 2 p.m.
Adviser: Professor David Blank
Two-Photon Induced Absorption and Dissociation of Dibenzofuran Based Photocages

Following a brief summary of recent departmental activity around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by Professor Erin Carlson, chair of the Department of Chemistry Diversity & Inclusion Committee, we will introduce Stacie LeSure, Ph.D. She is a consultant based out of Washington, D.C., and an expert in DEI work with specific emphasis in science and engineering. LeSure will be working with the chemistry department to develop, implement, and assess the impacts of a strategic plan around DEI. She will provide some background and discuss the plans, general approach, and expectations. There will be a significant amount of time at the end for questions, comments, and discussion. 

Abstract Session 8
Zoom

Xiaoxiao Yao at 9:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Christy L. Haynes
Environmental impact of carbon dots and its copper complex on plants growth

Nicholas J. Van Zee at 10 a.m.
Advisers: Professor Marc A. Hillmyer and Professor Timothy P. Lodge
Cell Membrane Stabilization Using Poloxamer Analogues

Jiaqian Li at 10:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor William Pomerantz
Development of Protein-Based 19F MRI Imaging Agents for Breast Cancer Diagnosis

SIGMA-ALDRICH^TM Chemistry Symposium - Midwest Region
Symposium brochure
Professor Christopher Douglas
Presentation: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Department of Chemistry
University of Minnesota

The activation of acyl C–O and C–C bonds: discovery, mechanism and application in synthesis

The metal-mediated activation of bonds to carbon has changed the way organic chemists approach chemical synthesis. This seminar will tell two stories from our lab in the area of activating the carbon acyl bond. The first story describes our sterically-controlled arene acylation with esters via iridium catalysis. This transformation provides complementary selectivity to the electronically controlled Friedel-Crafts acylation, and allows direct access to new substituted benzophenones. I will present our discovery of this process, and investigation into the synthetic utility of the reaction through a study of the scope of both arene and ester components, culminating in the concise synthesis of the potent anti-cancer/anti-mitotic agent hydroxyphenstatin. Our mechanistic data indicates a unique reaction mechanism that integrates metal mediated acyl C–O activation with arene C–H activation with a single iridium catalyst. The second story describes our development of the activation of the acyl bond of cyanoformamides for additions across alkenes. Our mechanistic work elucidated the role of Lewis base and Lewis acid additives in the process and paved the way for its application in alkaloid synthesis.

Session 7 Abstract
Zoom

Randall K. Wilharm at 9:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Valérie C. Pierre
Medical and Environmental Applications of Lanthanide-based Receptors for Phosphate

Noelle Olson at 10 a.m.
Adviser: Professor William Pomerantz
NMR Analyses of Acetylated H2A.Z Isoforms Identify Differential Binding Interactions with the Bromodomain of the NURF Nucleosome Remodeling Complex

Andrew Northwick at 10:30 a.m.
Advisers: Professor Erin Carlson and Professor Timothy Griffin
Novel Techniques to Study Biomolecular Corona Evolution

Professor Kristopher McNeill
Department of Environmental Systems Science
ETH Zurich
Host: Professor Marc Hillmyer
Abstract

An Environmental Chemist's View of Biodegradable Plastics

Contamination of the environment with plastic is a long-recognized problem, but in recent years, there has been a remarkable increase in public attention and outcry regarding plastic pollution. The low cost and durability of plastic materials, which make them desirable for many applications, are the same factors that contribute to their accumulation. The low cost lowers the barrier to short-term and single use applications and the durability means that, once in the environment, these materials are highly persistent. On this latter point, there is a growing interest and market for non-persistent, biodegradable plastic materials, which could help the problem of accumulation of plastic in the environment. This presentation will focus on several key questions about these alternative biodegradable materials: How do we know that a material is really biodegrading instead of just breaking down into microplastic? How does the receiving environment affect biodegradability? Are there applications where biodegradable plastics are viable alternatives to conventional plastics? What are the challenges that we face from an environmental chemistry perspective? 

Session 6 Abstract
Zoom

Huda Zahid at 9:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor William Pomerantz
Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Bromodomain of Epigenetic Protein BPTFn

Andrey Joaqui at 10 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Valérie C. Pierre
Designing Bacteria-Specific Tracers for PET Imaging

Katherine Jones at 10:30 a.m.
Adviser: Professor Daniel Harki
Discovery of APOBEC3 Ligands by High-Throughput Screening