Department of Chemistry

Katherine Franz, Duke University "Infectiously Inorganic: A Metallocentric View of Antimicrobial Activity" Abstract: Normal and pathogenic cells require a menu of metal nutrients for optimal growth, but also strategies to mitigate toxicity associated with misregulated or excessive levels of metals like Fe, Cu and Zn. Cells adjust metal homeostasis mechanisms depending on cell type, local […]

Carsten Milsmann, University of Delaware "Earth-Abundant Elements in a New Light: Photophysics and Photochemistry of Early Transition Metal Photosensitizers" Abstract: Advances in chemical control of the photophysical properties of transition metal complexes are revolutionizing a wide range of technologies, such as photocatalysis, solar energy conversion, and lightemitting diodes, but rely heavily on molecules containing precious […]

Vincent Ortiz, Auburn University "New-Generation Electron-Propagator Concepts in Chemical Bonding Theory" Abstract: Chemists have a long history of explaining trends in bonding, spectra and reactivity in terms of molecular orbital (MO) concepts. Whereas MO theories began as qualitative tools of pattern recognition and prediction, they have been supplanted by related concepts with quantitative aspirations. Ab […]

Jennifer Bridwell-Rabb, University of Michigan "Design Principles for Metalloprotein Chemistry" Abstract: Metalloproteins catalyze some of Nature’s most amazing and difficult chemical transformations. One such transformation, of interest to our laboratory, is the use of a high valent Fe-based oxidant to facilitate the functionalization of a traditionally inert C–H bond. Since this chemistry is vital to […]