These studies include IR and Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Microscopy, and BET surface area measurement. Atomic Force Microscopy studies of viruses. The two great challenges of synthetic organic chemistry at the present time are the control of stereochemistry and the efficient construction of carbon-carbon bonds. We have discovered a method for the efficient connection of carbon atoms with very high asymmetric selectivity which uses a chiral boronic ester group as the template. This chemistry is useful for making insect attractants, amino acids labeled with stable isotopes, antibiotics, and a variety of other biologically interesting molecules.
Undergraduate students can work on a variety of possible projects.
We are investigating several new processes involving carbon-boron bonds, and there is much simple fundamental chemistry that can be discovered by a student interested in spending a few hours a week doing laboratory work. Spectroscopy is the process of measuring molecular and atomic properties through their interaction with light or other elementary particles. The student will assist faculty and graduate students with running infrared and visible spectrometers. Initially, the student would help with the synthesis of thin film insulators. Then, training in running the spectrometers would be provided.