Green Chemistry

Our current research in this area focuses on the development of "environmentally friendly" methods for organic synthesis including the application of supercritical fluids as reaction media for organic synthesis and the use of microwave irradiation to promote synthetic reactions. We are also investigating environmentally friendly strategies for pest control. For recent publications in this area, see:

"Kinetic Correlation of Diels-Alder Reactions in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide", R. D. Weinstein, A. R. Renslo, R. L. Danheiser, J. G. Harris and J.W. Tester, J. Phys. Chem., 1996, 100, 12337.

"Concerning the Regiochemical Course of the Diels-Alder Reaction in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide", A. R. Renslo, R. D. Weinstein, J. W. Tester, and R. L. Danheiser, J. Org. Chem., 1997, 62, 4530.

"Silica-Promoted Diels-Alder Reactions in Carbon Dioxide from Gaseous to Supercritical Conditions", R. D. Weinstein, A. R. Renslo, R. L. Danheiser, and J. W. Tester, J. Phys. Chem. B 1999, 103, 2878.

"Supercritical Fluids as Solvent Replacements in Chemical Synthesis", J. W. Tester, R. L. Danheiser, R. D. Weinstein, A. R. Renslo, J. D. Taylor, and J. I. Steinfeld, In Green Chemistry: Recent Advances in Chemical Processing; P. T. Anastas, L. G. Heine, and T. C. Williamson, Eds.; ACS Symposium Series 767; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2000; pp 270-291.

"Ultrasonic Emulsification of Liquid, Near-Critical Carbon Dioxide - Water Biphasic Mixtures for Acceleration of a Hydrolysis Reaction", M. T. Timko, J. M. Diffendal, J. W. Tester, K. A. Smith, W. A. Peters, R. L. Danheiser, and J. I. Steinfeld, J. Phys. Chem. A 2003, 107, 5503.

"Pictet-Spengler Reactions in Multiphasic Supercritical Carbon Dioxide/CO2-Expanded Liquid Media.  In Situ Generation of Carbamates as a Strategy for Reactions of Amines in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide",  J. R. Dunetz, R. P. Ciccolini, M. Fröling, S. M. Papp, A. J. Allen, A. B. Holmes, J. W. Tester, and R. L. Danheiser, Chem. Commun . 2005, 4465.

"Palladium Catalysed Aryl Amination Reactions in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide",  C. J. Smith, M. W. S. Tsang, A. B. Holmes, R. L. Danheiser, and J. W. Tester  Org. Biomol. Chem . 2005, 3 , 3767.

"Reaction Rates in Ultrasonic Emulsions of Dense Carbon Dioxide and Water",  M. T. Timko, R. L. Danheiser, J. I. Steinfeld, J. W. Tester, and K. A. Smith, AIChE J . 2006, S2, 1127.

"Synthesis of Amides and Lactams in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide ", X. Y. Mak, R. P. Ciccolini, J. M. Robinson, J. W. Tester, and R. L. Danheiser, J. Org. Chem. 2009, 74, 9381.

Send mail to phamzik@mit.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 23, 2012