University of Richmond Department of Chemistry Seminar Program

2023-2024 POWELL CHEMISTRY SEMINAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Apr 19thUR School of Arts & Sciences Student Symposium

Date	Presenter, Seminar Title	Host (Room)
Sept 1^st 1:30pm In-person	Organizational & Introductory Meeting with Chem 322/421/422 Students	Simpson (GOTW A001)
Sept 8^th 1:30pm In-person	Prof. Feng Lin Associate Professor of Chemistry Virginia Tech Title: Sodium ion batteries rising as a key energy storage technology Selected References: Tao, L.; Russell, J.; Lin, F. et al Reversible Switch in Charge Storage Enabled by Selective Ion Transport in Solid Electrolyte Interphase, Journal of the American Chemical Society 145, 16538-16547 (2023). Rahman M. M.; McGuigan, S.; Lin, F. et al. Chemical Modulation of Local Transition Metal Environment Enables Reversible Oxygen Redox in Mn-Based Layered Cathodes, ACS Energy Letters 6, 2882-2890 (2021). Jin, Q.; Tao, L.; Lin, F. et al. Agricultural Wastes for Full-Cell Sodium Ion Batteries: Engineering Biomass Components to Maximize the Performance and Economic Prospects, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 11, 536-546 (2023).	Simpson (GOTW A001)
Sept 15^th 1:30pm In-person	Prof. Jonathan Dattelbaum Professor of Chemistry University of Richmond Title: Characterization of Streptomyces Natural Products in New Zealand Selected References: (1) Tripathi, A. Nature is the world’s original pharmacy. The Conversation, published online July 27, 2022. https://theconversation.com/nature-is-the-worlds-original-pharmacy-returning-to-medicines-roots-could-help-fill-drug-discovery-gaps-176963 (2) Walesch, S., Birkelbach, J., Jezequel, G, et. al. Fighting antibiotic resistance—strategies and (pre)clinical developments to find new antibacterials. EMBO Reports (2023)24:e56033. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202256033 (3) Yim, G., Thaker, M., Koteva, K. et al. Glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis. *J Antibiot* 67, 31–41 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ja.2013.117	Simpson (GOTW A001)
Sept 22^nd	(no seminar because of the A&S Faculty and Staff Research Symposium)
Sept 29^th 1:30pm In-person	Prof. Terry Moore Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy University of Illinois – Chicago Title: Non-electrophilic activators of NRF2, a transcription factor involved in the oxidative stress response Selected References: Lazzara, P.R., David, B.P., Ankireddy, A., Richardson, K.D., Ratia, K.M., Reddy, S.P., Moore, T.W. Isoquinoline Kelch-like ECH-Associated Protein 1‑Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-like 2 (KEAP1-NRF2) Inhibitors with High Metabolic Stability, J. Medicinal Chem., 63, 6547-6560 (2020). Richardson, B.G., Jain, A.D., Potteti, H.R., Lazzara, P.R., David, B.P., Tamatam, C.R., Choma, E., Skowron, K., Dye, K., Siddiqui, Z., Want, Y.-T., Krunic, A., Reddy, S.P., Moore, T.W. Replacement of a Naphthalene Scaffold in Kelch-like ECHAssociated Protein 1 (KEAP1)/Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-derived 2)- like 2 (NRF2) Inhibitors, J. Medicinal Chem., 61, 8029-8047 (2018).	Pollock (GOTW A001)
Oct 6^th 1:30pm In-person	Evelyn Ramirez (student speaker) Chemistry Senior University of Richmond Title: Developing a Predictive Model for the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones Selected References: Zahrt, A.F., Henle, J.J., Rose, B.T., Wang, Y., Darrow, W.T., Denmark, S.E. Prediction of higher-selectivity catalysts by computer-driven workflow and machine learning Science, 363(6424), eaau5631 (2019).	(1:30pm, GOTW C114)
Oct 13^th 1:30pm In-person	Charli Chen (student speaker) Chemistry Senior University of Richmond Title: Investigation of CO₂ Reduction Mechanism with Isopropyl Amine and Other Amine Species Selected References: (1) Kar, S.; Sen, R.; Goeppert, A.; Prakash, G. K. S. Integrative CO2 Capture and Hydrogenation to Methanol with Reusable Catalyst and Amine: Toward a Carbon Neutral Methanol Economy. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2018, 140 (5), 1580-1583. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b12183. (2) Iyer, K. S.; Nelson, C.; Lipshutz, B. H. Facile, green, and functional group-tolerant reductions of carboxylic acids…in, or with, water. Green Chemistry 2023, 25 (7), 2663-2671, 10.1039/D3GC00517H. DOI: 10.1039/D3GC00517H.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114)
Oct 20^th 1:30pm In-person	Prof. Kathryn Knowles Associate Professor of Chemistry U. of Rochester Title: Synthesis and Photophysics of First-Row Transition Metal Oxide Semiconductor Nanomaterials Selected References: (1) Beidelman, B.A., Zhang, X., Matson, E.M., Knowles, K.E. Acidity of Carboxylic Acid Ligands Influences the Formation of VO₂(A) and VO₂(B) Nanocrystals under Solvothermal Conditions ACS Nanosci. Au (2023). (2) Shelton, J.L., Knowles, K.E. Polaronic optical transitions in hematite (α-Fe2O3) revealed by first-principles electron–phonon coupling J. Chem. Phys. 157, 174703 (2022). (3) Sanchez-Lievanos, Knowles, K.E. Controlling Cation Distribution and Morphology in Colloidal Zinc Ferrite Nanocrystals Chem. Mater. 34(16), 7446-7459 (2022).	Norris (GOTW A001)
Oct 27^th	No seminar because of the SERMACS meeting
Nov 3^rd 1:30pm In-person	Prof. Samy El-Shall Professor of Chemistry Virginia Commonwealth U. Title: Organic Chemistry in Space: Formation Mechanisms and Stepwise Solvation of Astrochemical Relevant Ions in the Gas Phase Selected References: A. Soliman, I. K. Attah, A. M. Hamid, M. S. El-Shall, *Inter. J. Mass Spectrom2015, 377, 139-151. R. Peverati, S. P. Platt, I. K. Attah, S. Aziz, M. S. El-Shall, M. Head-Gordon, J. Am. Chem. Soc.* 2017, 139, 11923-11932. K. A. Mason, A. C. Pearcy, A. M. Hamid, M. S. El-Shall, J. Chem. Phys. 2019, 150, 124303. K. A. Mason, A. C. Pearcy, Z. A. Christensen, I. K. Attah, M. Meot-Ner, M. S. El-Shall, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 9684−9694. Z. A. Christensen, A. C. Pearcy, K. A. Mason, M. S. El-Shall, *J. Phys. Chem. A* 2022, 126, 5160−5166.	Donald (GOTW A001)
Nov 10^th 1:30pm In-person	Karthik Lalwani (student speaker) Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Halogen-Bonding Capable Gold Nanoparticles — Synthesis, Modification and Application in Molecular Detection Selected References: (1) Dang, Q. M.; Gilmore, S. T.; Lalwani, K.; Conk, R. J.; Simpson, J. H.; Leopold, M. C. Monolayer-Protected Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Halogen Bonding Capability─An Avenue for Molecular Detection Schemes. *Langmuir* 2022, 38 (15), 4747–4762. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00381. (2) Dang, Q. M.; Simpson, J. H.; Parish, C. A.; Leopold, M. C. Evaluating Halogen-Bond Strength as a Function of Molecular Structure Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Computational Analysis. *J. Phys. Chem. A* 2021, 125 (42), 9377–9393. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c07554. Sebastian Mendoza-Gomez (student speaker) Chemistry Senior University of Richmond Title: 578 Variations on the Bergman Cyclization Selected References: Luxon, A.R., Orms, N. Kanters, R., Krylov, A.I., Parish, C.A. An ab Initio Exploration of the Bergman Cyclization J. Phys. Chem. A 122 (1), 420-430 (2018) https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jpca.7b10576	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Nov 17^th
Nov 24^th	No seminar – Thanksgiving break
Dec 1^st 1:30pm In-person	Dr. Sophie Shevick Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard U. Title: Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)-Collybolide and Reevaluation of Kappa-Opioid Receptor Agonism Selected References: Shevick, SL, Freeman, SM, Tong, G, Russo, RJ, Bohn, LM, Shenvi, RA “Asymmetric Syntheses of (+)- and (-)-Collybolide Enable Reevaluation of kappa-Opioid Receptor Agonism ACS Cent. Sci. 2022, 8(7), 948-954.	Johnson (GOTW A001)
Dec 8^th	Felix Minami (student speaker) Chemistry Senior U. of Richmond Title: Increasing global access to the high-volume HIV drug nevirapine through process intensification Selected References: (1) Veghese, J, Kong, CJ, Rivalti, D, Yu, EC, Krack, R, Alcazar, J, Manley, JB, McQuade, DT, Ahmad, S, Belecki, K, Gupton, BF “Increasing global access to the high-volume HIV drug nevirapine through process intensification” Green Chemistry, 2017, 19, 2986-2991; (2) Diab, S, McQuade, DT, Gupton, BF, Gerogiorgis, DI “Process Design and Optimization for the Continuous Manufacturing of Nevirapine, an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for HIV Treatment” Org. Process Res. Dev., 2019, 23(3), 320-333.	(1:30pm GOTW C114)
Jan 19th (2024)	Dr. John Herbert Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Ohio State U. Title: Neat, Simple, and Wrong: Just-So Stories Regarding Non-Bonded Interactions Selected References: [1] K. Carter-Fenk, K. U. Lao, and J. M. Herbert. “Predicting and understanding non-covalent interactions using novel forms of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory”. *Acc. Chem. Res.* 54, 3679–3690 (2021). [2] J. M. Herbert. “Neat, simple, and wrong: Debunking electrostatic fallacies regarding noncovalent interactions”. *J. Phys. Chem. A* 125, 7125–7137 (2021). [3] J. M. Herbert and K. Carter-Fenk. “Electrostatics, charge transfer, and the nature of the halide–water hydrogen bond”. *J. Phys. Chem. A* 125, 1243–1256 (2021). [4] K. Carter-Fenk and J. M. Herbert. “Reinterpreting π-stacking”. *Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.* 22, 24870–24886 (2020).	Parish (GOTW A001)
Jan 26th 1:30pm	Dr. Gael Ung Associate Professor U. of Connecticut Title: Generating chiral light from molecules spanning almost the whole periodic table Selected References: (1) Kapper, SC, Ponnekanti, A, Schaab, J, Li, T-Y, Chung, CL, Ung, G, Djurovich, PI, Thompson, ME “Bis-Oxazoline Derivatives as Ancillary Ligands for bis-Cyclometalated Iridium Complexes” J. Organomet. Chem., 2023 (in press); (2) Zhang, S, Schnable, D, Elgin, J, Ung, G, Wu, Y “Enhanced Circularly Polarized Luminescence Dissymmetry of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ Complexes in a 3D Chiral Framework: A Study of Transparent Thin Films” Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 12867-12870.	Johnson (GOTW A001)
Feb 2nd 1:30pm	Dr. Danielle ConfairSenior Scientist Astra Zeneca Title: Rhodium-Catalyzed C–H Activation for the Synthesis, Elaboration, and Application of N-Heterocyclic Compounds Selected References: Dongbang, S, Confair, DN, Ellman, JA “Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Alkenylation/Electrocyclization Cascade Provides Dihydropyridines That Serve as Versatile Intermediates to Diverse Nitrogen Heterocycles” Acc. Chem. Res., 2021, 54(7), 1766-1778.	Downey (GOTW A001)
Feb 9th	Responsible Conduct of Research	Parish & Pollock (GOTW A001)
Feb 16th	POWELL SPEAKER Dr. Daniel Nocera Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy Harvard U. Title: The Global Energy Challenge: Food and Fuel from Air, Water and Sunlight Selected References: (1) Nocera, DG, “Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer: The Engine of Energy Conversion and Storage” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 1069-1081; (2) Cook, TR, Dogutan, DK, Reece, SY, Surendranath, Y, Teets, TS, Nocera, DG “Solar Energy Supply and Storage for the Legacy and Nonlegacy Worlds” Chem. Rev., 2010, 110, 6474-6502.	Dominey & Simpson
Feb 23rd 1:30pm In-person	Nam Pham (student speaker) Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Quantifying and Partitioning Substituent Effects using Sigma Hole Potentials Selected References: (1) Donald, KJ, Pham, N, Ravichandran, P “Sigma Hole Potentials as Tools: Quantifying and Partitioning Substituent Effects” J. Phys. Chem. A, 2023, 127(48), 10147-10158; (2) Donald, KJ, Tawfik, M, Buncher, B “Weak Interactions as Diagnostic Tools for Inductive Effects” J. Phys. Chem. A, 2015, 119(16), 3780-3788. Manasa Rajeev (student speaker) Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Effects of polymer solution entanglement on the mechanics of electrospun polycaprolactone fibers Selected References: (1) Rajeev, M, Helms, CC “A Study of the Relationship between Polymer Solution Entanglement and Electrospun PCL Fiber Mechanics” Polymers, 2023, 15(23), article 23; (2) Shenoy, SL, Bates, WD, Frisch, HL, Wnek, GE “Role of chain entanglements on fiber formation during electrospinning of polymer solutions: Good solvent, non-specific polymer-polymer interaction limit” Polymer, 2005, 46(1), 3372-3384; (3) Suwantong, O, “Biomedical applications of electrospun polycaprolactone fiber mats” Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2016, 27(10), 1264-1273.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Mar 1st 1:30pm	Byoungmoo Kim Assistant Professor Clemson U. Title: New Synthetic Methods for Deoxygenative Diversification for Carboxylic Acids Selected References: (1) Li, J, Huang, C-Y, Li, C-J “Deoxygenative Functionalizations of Aldehydes, Ketones, and Carboxylic Acids” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2022, 61, e202112770; (2) Majumdar, N, “Carboxylic Acids as Building Blocks in Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions” ACS Catal., 2022, 12, 8291-8324; (3) Martinez, S, Veth, L, Lainer, B, Dydio, P “Challenges and Opportunities in Multicatalysis, ACS Catal., 2021, 11, 3891-3915.	Shugrue (GOTW A001)
Mar 8th	Alexa Connors (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: One-pot enol silane formation — allylation of ketones promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Selected References: Heafner, ED, Lin, X, Connors, AH, Zhong, H, Coyle, RJ, Liu, Y, Downey, CW “One-pot enol silane formation — allylation of ketones promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate” Synthesis, 2023, 55, 2377-2389. Abigail McEntire (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: The Effect of Solvent Identity and Hydride-Donor on the Reduction of CO2 into Useful Fuels Selected References: (1) Ilic, S, Gesiorski, JL, Weerasooriya, RB, Glusac, KD “Biomimetic Metal-Free Hydride Donor Catalysts for CO2 Reduction” Acc. Chem. Res., 2022, 55(6), 844-856; (2) Elton, TE, Ball, GE, Bhadbhade, M, Field, LD, Colbran, SB “Evaluation of Organic Hydride Donors as Reagents for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide and Metal-Bound Formates” Organometallics, 2018, 37(21), 3972-3982; (3) Lepori, CMO, Correa, NM, Silber, JJ, Falcone, RD, Lopez-Lopez, M, Moya, ML “Influence of the AOT Counterion Chemical Structure on the Generation of Organized Systems” Langmuir, 2020, 36(36), 10785-10793.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Mar 15th	SPRING BREAK
Mar 22nd	Kathy Colin (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Identification of Xanthones as Selective Killers of CancerCells Overexpressing the ABC Transporter MRP1 Selected References: (1) Estelle, G-B, et al. “Identification of Xanthones as Selective Killers of Cancer Cells Overexpressing the ABC Transporter MRP1” ChemMedChem, 6(8), 2011, 1478-1484; (2) Lauriane, D, et al. “Flavonoid Dimers Are Highly Potent Killers of Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells Overexpressing MRP1” Biochem. Pharmacol., 124, 2017, 10-18. Luke Simkins (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Exploration of Pynaphthyridine and Binaphthyridine Manganese(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes: Influence on Carbon Dioxide Reduction Electrocatalysis Selected References: Cohen, KY, Simonyan, H, Ortiz, M, Solomon, BF, Simkins, L, Dominey, RN, Goldman, EW, Bocarsly, AB “Exploration of Pynaphthyridine and Binaphthyridine Manganese(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes: Influence on Carbon Dioxide Reduction Electrocatalysis” submitted to Organometallics.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Mar 29th	Kingsley Dwomoh (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: The Continuous Flow Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Pyrroles Selected References: Buchwald, SL, Pellagatti, L “Continuous-Flow Preparation and Use of B-Chloro Enals Using the Vilsmeier Reagent” Org. Process Res. Dev., 2012, 16(8), 1442-1448. Vicky Osenga (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Comparison of properties of isomeric pyrrolyl phosphine ligands Selected References: (1) Osenga, VA, Sykes, NC, Sopheak, P, Bambha, MK, Schley, ND, Johnson, MW “Comparative analysis of the donor properties of isomeric pyrrolyl phosphine ligands” Organometallics, 2024, 43(1), 14-20; (2) Werra, JA, Wurst, K, Wilm, LB, Lowe, P, Rothel, MB, Dielmann, F “1,2,5-Trimethylpyrrolyl phosphines: a class of strongly donating arylphosphines” Organometallics, 2023, 42(7), 597-605.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Apr 5th	Ben Dwyer (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Altering Product Selectivity for Ru-based CO2 Reduction Catalysts Selected References: (1) Olah, GA, Surya Prakash, GK, Goeppert, A “Anthropogenic Chemical Carbon Cycle for a Sustainable Future” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133(33), 12881-12898; (2) Nichols, AW, Machan, CW “Secondary-Sphere Effects in Molecular Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction” Front. Chem., 2019, 7, article 397. Greg Hughes (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: One-pot synthesis of 4-isoxazolines from chalcones promoted by trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Selected References: (1) Downey, CW, Dombrowski, CM, Maxwell, EN, Safran, CL, Akomah, OA “One-Pot Enol Silane Formation/Mukaiyama-Mannich Addition of Ketones, Amides, and Thioesters to Nitrones in the Presence of Trialkylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonates” Eur. J. of Org. Chem., 2013, 2013(25), 5716-5720; Sklar, DE, Helbling, AV, Liu, Y, Downey, CW “One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Methylfurans from 3-(Trimethylsilyl)Propargyl Acetates Promoted by Trimethylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonate” Tet. Lett., 2021, 87, 153424.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114) (2:15pm, GOTW C114)
Apr 12th	Abigail Dalton (student speaker)Chemistry senior U. of Richmond Title: Substitution of sulfur-containing compounds Selected References: (1) Saghaeidehkordi, AM, Kaur, K, J. of Med. Chem., 2021, 64(1), 216-232; (2) Bargh, JD, Isidro-Llobet, A, Parker, JS, Spring, DR “Cleavable linkers in antibody-drug conjugates” Chem. Soc. Rev., 2019, 48(16), 4361-4374.	(1:30pm, GOTW C114)
Apr 19th	UR School of Arts & Sciences Student Symposium
Apr 26th	Chemistry Department Student Awards