Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 11, Number 36
Friday, October 6, 1995

Next Issue: Friday, October 13. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, October 10. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Linda Naida, Room 18-393, Department of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/253-4080; 617/258-7500 (fax) or e-mail to lkn@mit.edu. Back issues of Chemformation can be accessed via the Chemistry Department Website.

Visit the Chemistry Department Website at http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/c/chemistry/www/

SEMINAR CALENDAR

Harvard/MIT Seminar in Organic Chemistry: Professor Greg Kubas; Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM; "Transition Metal Sigma-Bond Complexes and Small Molecule Activation"; Wednesday, October 11, 1995; Harvard University, Mallinckrodt MB-23 @ 5:00 p.m.; Refreshments @ 4:30
Seminar in Biological Chemistry: Professor Joachim Seelig; Professor of Biophysics, Biocenter at the University of Basel; "Co-Operative Peptide-Peptide Interactions at the Membrane Surface"; Thursday, October 12, 1995; MIT, Room 6-120, 4:00 p.m.; Refreshments @ 3:30
Special Seminar: Dr. Judith Klinman; Department of Chemistry, University of Berkeley; "Quinoproteins: A New Class of Biologic Redox Catalysts"; Friday, October 13, 1995; 4:00 p.m. Whitehead Auditorium
George Büchi Visiting Lecturer in Organic Chemistry: Professor Andrew G. Myers; California Institute of Technology; "Dynemicin: A Convergent Synthesis of the Unusual Enediyne Reveals Some Mechanistic Surprises" and "Neocarzinostatin: A New Mechanistic Puzzle and a Synthetic Problem Solved"; Monday, October 16, 1995; Tuesday, October 17, 1995; 4:00 in Room 6-120

"Crystallographic Chemical Analysis: A Mini-Symposium to Introduce the New Departmental Siemens CCD State of the Art Diffractometer"

This special mini-symposium will be held on Saturday, October 7, in Room 6-120 at 1:00. The program includes: opening remarks by Professor Stephen J. Lippard, history of X-ray detection (Dr. W. M. Davis), and presentations by students representing the Cummins, Davison and Lippard Groups.

FACULTY RESEARCH TALKS FOR INCOMING GRADUATE STUDENTS

All talks will be at 7:00 pm

Wed., Oct. 11: Prof. Liu: Norris Room (18-490); Prof. Davison: Amdur Room (6-233)
Thur., Oct. 12: Prof. ZurLoye: Amdur Room (6-233)
Tue., Oct. 17: Prof. Seyferth: Norris Room (18-490); Prof. Orme-Johnson: Amdur Room (6-233)
Wed., Oct. 18: Prof. Schrock: Norris Room (18-490)
Thurs., Oct 19: Prof. Griffin: Norris Room (18-490)
Tues., Oct. 24: Prof. Cummins: Norris Room (18-490)

Students interested in thesis research with faculty who are not presenting a research talk should arrange an appointment during October.

THE CHEMISTRY OF BORABENZENES AND BORATABENZENES

Professor Greg Fu

The chemistry of borabenzene and boratabenzene derivatives is one focus of interest in the Fu group. We have developed an efficient and general three-step synthesis of borabenzene complexes, providing for the first time ready access to this family of compounds [Diego Hoic, Jennifer Robbins Wolf]. Although a wide variety of heteroaromatic systems have been reported to undergo substitution, displacement reactions of borabenzene adducts had not previously been demonstrated. We have established that these complexes do indeed undergo substitution at boron [Diego Hoic], and our mechanistic (kinetics, labeling, reactivity) studies strongly suggest that the reaction proceeds via nucleophilic aromatic substitution [Shuang Qiao].

This substitution reaction of borabenzenes provides a straightforward and versatile route to boratabenzenes, including lithium 1-H-boratabenzene, a boron analogue of benzene, which we have crystallographically characterized (see below); initial reactivity studies have established that it serves as a source of hydride, reducing epoxides and aldehydes [Diego Hoic]. We are currently exploring the chemistry of this and other boratabenzenes, such as potassium diphbenzene, which may prove useful in organometallic chemistry as an anionic analogue of triphenylphosphine [Diego Hoic].

Faculty Positions

The University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY: invites applicants for a position in organic chemistry. The main criteria is that the applicant enjoys research and teaching.
The University of Washington, Seattle, WA: is seeking applications for a faculty position in any area of chemistry, but possibly an inorganic chemistry. A Ph.D. in any area of chemistry including chemistry education.
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio: is looking to expand their faculty to include two junior and two senior chemists in organic and inorganic chemistry. Interested applicants should possess excellent research and teaching skills.
Yale University, New Haven, CT: is seeking candidates for an assistant professorship in organic chemistry. All areas of organic chemistry will be considered, including those interfacing with biology, medicine, physics and materials science.
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: is seeking an assistant professor in the area of organic chemistry to complement their current faculty. Preference will be given to those whose research interests complement current faculty.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA: Professor Charles Lieber, Chairman of the Faculty Search Committee announces an opening for a tenure-track assistant professor in inorganic chemistry. Individuals should be interested in a career in academic research and teaching.
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA: seeks to identify qualified candidates for an assistant professorship in Chemical Physics in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. The Institute places great emphasis on creativity, and offers strong programs for research.
The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, invites applications for a theorist in the area of Chemical Physics. Preference will be given to those candidates whose research closely matches current research.
The University of Nevada at Reno, Reno, NV: is searching for an assistant professor in experimental physical chemistry to begin July of 1996. Emphasis will be placed on applicants with interests in condensed phase research, however all areas will be given consideration.
The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT: invites applicants to fill a tenure-track position in inorganic chemistry. Preference will be given to those applicants who have a strong background in materials chemistry or bioinorganic chemistry and post-doctoral experience is preferred.
Amherst College, Amherst, MA: is searching for an organic chemist at the assistant professor level to begin next July. The position requires teaching organic chemistry and to participate in teaching introductory and upper-level undergraduate chemistry course.
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND: has three faculty vacancies in organic, physical and analytical chemistry opening for fall of 1996. Applicants with research interests in materials, laser spectroscopy, physical organic chemistry, theoretical and computational chemistry are encouraged to apply.
Baylor University Waco, Texas: seeks candidates for an assistant professor in organic chemistry for fall of 1996. Research interests in bio-organic chemistry is preferred and postdoctoral experience is highly desired.
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM: has begun a search for an assistant professor in analytical, inorganic, organic or physical chemistry. Those applicants whose research interests complement existing efforts to build strong programs will be given preference.
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.: is searching for candidates to fill the position of assistant professor in biochemistry. Applicants should have experience in structural biology.
The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA: is seeking potential candidates for an assistant professorship in biological chemistry with an emphasis on theoretical and computational structural biology.
The University of California at Davis, Davis, CA: has an opening for fall of 1996 in inorganic chemistry with an emphasis on synthesis, bioinorganic chemistry or catalysis.
The University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho: is recruiting for a tenure-track position in analytical chemistry who someone who can develop a successful and vigorous research and teaching program.
The University of Washington, Seattle, WA: seeks candidates for anticipated tenure-track faculty appointment in any area of chemistry including chemistry education.

Postdoctoral Positions

Associated Western Universities,Inc, Richland WA:. Northwest Division Postdoctoral Fellowship with Dr. David Lowry at the Battell, Pacific Northwestern Laboratories (PNL) The successful candidate will use high resolution solution state NMR to determine the structure and dynamics of proteins, protein-protein complexes and protein modified-DNA complexes.
Rohm and Haas Company in Philadelphia, PA invites applicants for two postdoctoral openings involving synthesis and product development, primarily utilizing emulsion polymer technology to develop new materials as modifiers for poly (vinyl chloride) plastics.

Miscellaneous Positions

Children's Hospital is looking for qualified individuals to perform research in various departments in neurosurgery and pulmonary. The first position requires a B.A. in Biology and background in cell or molecular biology and lab experience with primary cell cultures, gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography while the second requires a B.A. in science and at least two years of research experience and some supervisory experience. E-mail McGaff@al.tch.Harvard.edu or fax to McGaff at 617-355-7884.
Johnson and Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ: has a position open for a senior scientist in their topical formulation and drug delivery research program. The scientist would develop and evaluate leading core technologies for skin care products. A Ph.D. is required.

Recruiting Note:

The 3 M Company will be on campus on Wednesday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in Gilliland Auditorium (66-110) to host an informal presentation before their recruiting in the Chemistry Department on November 2 and 3. Please feel free to attend to discuss career paths and specific career opportunities.

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