Stable Isotope Materials and Chemistry at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Abstract: Chemistry, for many researchers, ends with distinguishing element from element. Stable isotopes, physically separated from one another as further divisions of the elements, extends the range of research possibilities. After the isotope separation process, these enriched isotopes are further purified chemically then stored in their most stable chemical form.

Gut Microbial Chemistry in Health and Disease

Abstract: Human-associated bacteria play a vital role in human health, and microbial imbalance has been linked to a wide range of disease states. However, the ways in which bacteria affect the host at a molecular level remain poorly understood. In order to harness connections between the microbiome and disease to improve human health, we need to know more about the molecules and chemical mechanisms driving host-microbiota interactions.

Intercalation, Oxidation, and Bond Formation in Metal Chalcogenides

Abstract: 1D or 2D metal chalcogenide exhibit a plethora of interesting properties ranging from magnetism and superconductivity to catalysis. We developed a unique set of hybrid compounds composed of infinite 1D or 2D iron-chalcogenide fragments and 0D coordination complexes. In this way the magnetic interactions and tunability can be segregated into two different sublattices of a hybrid material. Utilizing coordination chemistry methodology to tune the molecular amine complexes we can manipulate the composition structure and properties of the hybrid materials.

A Radical Approach to Organic Chemistry

Synthetic chemists need ever better tools to synthesize the molecules of modern life, from life-changing pharmaceuticals to next generation materials. Further, there is increasing need for these transformations to be both step and atom efficient and sustainable, proceeding under mild conditions using earth abundant elements. Here we show how employing open shell intermediates strategically allows for challenging transformations to be achieved directly, from alkene difunctionalization to carboxylic acid deletion.

Chirality Magic from Magic-Sized Clusters

Abstract: Magic-sized clusters (MSC) are identical CdS inorganic cores that maintain a closed-shell stability, inhibiting conventional growth processes. Because MSCs are smaller than nanoparticles, they can mimic molecular-level processes, and because of their small size and high organic-ligand/core ratio, MSCs have “softer” inter-particle interactions, with access to a richer phase diagram beyond the classical close packed structures seen with larger particles.

C-H functionalization inspired by copper enzymes

Abstract: High-valent Cu(III) complexes have long been proposed as important intermediates in biological redox processes and organic transformations involving the activation of C-H bonds. However, the proposed high-valent Cu(III) intermediates often elude detection due to their fleeting lifetimes. In the first part of my talk, I will present a series of dicopper (II,III) coordination complexes as models to understand the reactivity of NO and NO2- at dicopper enzymes.