Chemformation

The Weekly Newsletter of the MIT Chemistry Department

Volume 13, Number 17
Friday, May 9, 1997

Next issue: Friday, May 16th. Chemformation is published by the Office of the Department Chairman. The deadline for the next issue is Tuesday, May 13. Please convey items of interest (or mailing list changes) to Linda Earle Room 18-390, Department of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617/253-1803; 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/chemistry/www/

SEMINAR CALENDAR

John Gross

Griffin Research Group

"Recent Advances in the Structure Determination of Peptides Through Solid State NMR"

Friday, May 9

5:00 p.m. in 6-120

Refreshments in 6-321 @ 4:45

Graduate Seminar Series in Physical Chemistry

David Goldenberg

University of Utah

"Disulffide-Coupled Protein Folding in Cows and Snails"

Monday, May 12

12:00 p.m. in 68-181

Macromolecular Structure/Function Seminar Series

Dr. Stephen W. Kaldor

Eli Lilly and Company

"From Structure-Based Design to Combinatorial Chemistry: Skill Sets for the Successful 21st Century Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry"

Tuesday, May 13

9:30 a.m. in 6-120

Chemistry 5.561

Chemistry in Industry Lecture Series

Professor Amitabha Sinha

University of California

"Photochemistry and Dissociation Dynamices of Atmospherically Important Molecules"

Tuesday, May 13

4:00 p.m. in 2-105

Refreshments @ 3:30 in 6-233

Physical Chemistry Seminar Series

Professor Lanny Liebeskind

Emory University

"Modern Synthetic Reactions Using Primordial Organometallic Processes"

Thursday, May 15

4:00 in 6-120

Refreshments @ 3:30 in 18-490

Organic Seminar Series

Dr. Stuart H. Yuspa

National Cancer Institute

"The Pathogenesis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Lessons Learned from Studies of Mouse Skin Carcinogenesis"

Thursday, May 15

4:00 p.m. in 66-110

Whitaker College of Health Sciences

Division of Toxicology

Jane Koretz

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

"How the Human Eye Focuses: Function Across Six Orders of Magnitute"

Monday, May 19

12:00 P.M. noon in 68-181

Macromolecular Structure/Function Series

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Chemistry

Graduate Research Symposium in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry

Thursday, May 29, 1997
2:00 PM, Room 6-120

Becky Carazza, Virgil Lab

"Efforts Toward the Total Synthesis of Paeoniflorin"

David Hays, Fu Lab

"The Development of Organotin Reagents for Organic Synthesis"

Adam Renslo, Danheiser Lab

"[4+2] Cycloadditions of Oximino Sulfonates. A Method for the Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Pyridines"

Bain Chin, Buchwald Lab

"Resolution of (rac)-Ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)Titanium and Zirconium Derivatives"

*****Refreshments*****

Jinhua Song, Masamune Lab

"Some Recent Advances in Macrolide Synthesis"

Malisa Troutman, Buchwald Lab

"Early Transition Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reduction of Olefins"

Andrew Rhomberg, Biemann Lab

"Characterization of Highly Sulfated Compounds by MALDI Mass Spectrometry Aimed at a Sequence Methodology for Heparin and Related Polysaccharides"

Science Website Offers Free Career Advice

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a national non-profit organization, publishes a young Web publication, Science's Next Wave, targeted at scientists-in-training and scientists starting their careers. The Next Wave site (WWW.NEXTWAVE.ORG) provides free job-hunting advice columns and addresses career issues that specifically affect scientists in biology, chemistry, and physics. The site features weekly news and career updates, monthly interactive forums with essays from scientists in alternative career areas or policy areas, and a large listing of career-related Web sites which we think will be of interest to scientists. The site solicits its readers' opinions on issues and career concerns they would like to see addressed, and is staffed primarily by former bench scientists who seek out, edit, or write most of the site's content.

Two Internships Available

Colgate-Palmolive in Piscataway, New Jersey, has an internship available with two choices of research topics to choose from. The first topic involves the development a clear superior antiperspirant stick. The challenge here is to understand the gelling mechanism of the currently used rheological additive, to identify a superior rheological modifier, and to overcome the product deficiencies such as tackiness, syneresis and high irritation potential. The second topic involves the development of a highly efficacious clear antiperspirant gel. The challenge is to improve the efficacy and fell of the existing antiperspirant gel. For both projects, an ideal candidate would possess a major in polymer chemistry or polymer science with a good background in organic chemistry. Please contact: Dr. Robert Bianchini at Mennen, Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962-1928.

Foster-Miller in Waltham, MA: has an immediate opening for an intern for their project entitled, "Micron and Submicron Sized High Temperature Polymer Spheres" Most projects typically involve conducting a literature search to plan synthesis activities, performing small scale synthesis, charcterizing the product and evaluating its potential for the indended applcations. In addition to working on one or more projects, the intern will be exposed and will have the opportunity to contribute to numerous other chemistry related projects. Please contact Dr. K. "Jay" Jayaraj, Division Manager, Electronic Materials at (617) 684-4121 who will make arrangments for a visit to Foster-Miller. More information is available in the file in Susan Brighton's office.

Glass Blowing Services Available

Bob DiGiacomo will be coming in on Wednesdays or Thursdays to pick up any glass blowing work that you may have available. Please bring any work to room 6-031 or call Ed Udas or John Annese at 3-4505. Bob will do the work on a first-come, first-served basis.

Positions

• Dexter Distributor Programs: Seeking an assistant chemist for Dexter Frekote, a world leader in polymer release agent technology. Releasing agents are used in a number of processing industries to mold thermosetting materials. Primary markets include: Aerospace, Marine and Rubber. Frekote release agents are reactive, polymeric resins which uniquely allow processors to mold parts without release agent transfer.Responsible for initiating, implementing, and participating in product development projects. Reporting to the R&D Manager, release, the incumbent will be responsible for synthesis and characterization of potential new products. The successful candidate should possess a B.S. degree in organic, polymer, or inorganic chemistry and extensive knowledge of various spectrographic methods. Experience in design of experiments a plus. Please submit resume to: Dr. Zheng Lu, Dexter Distributor Programs, One Dexter Drive, Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874.
  
  
• Genetics Institute, Cambridge, MA: Seeks Scientist with Ph.D. in either organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry with two or more years postdoctoral experience. The successful candidate should be able to independently design and execute a multistep synthesis of desired compounds with a proven record of accomplishments as evidenced by publications. Knowledge of combinatorial chemistry and experience in its application in multiple synthesis is an asset. Please send or fax resume suitable for scanning to: Human Resources Department, Genetics Institute, Inc. 87 Cambridge Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140.
  
  
• Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Seeks a synthetic organic chemist with a BS or MS degree and minimum one year undergraduate laboratory experience. Suitable candidates should be familiar with the synthesis of organic molecules, modern instrumentation and analytical techniques. The position is responsible for conducting experiments in the medicinal chemistry program. Applicants must have the ability to participate effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment. Previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry is desirable but not essential. For consideration, please mail or fax cover letter and curriculum vitae, indicating job code: SRSOC to: J. Simone, Human Resource Manager, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 24 Emily Road, Cambridge, MA 02139, fax is (617) 576-0232
  
  

Postdoctoral Positions

• Duke University, Durham, North Carolina: The availability of a two postdoctoral positions in bioorganic chemistry and nucleic acid biochemistry in the group of Professor Michael C. Pirrung are available for one year. Recent Ph.D.'s with diverse interests are sought for one year in a multidisciplinary research environment. Projects can involve: combinatorial chemistry, DNA synthesis, photochemistry , surface derivatiztion and characterization, microfabrication (DNA chips), RNA analysis, molecular computation, enzyme kinetics, or asymmetric catalysis. Check the website for more information at: http://www.chemistry.duke Candidates should send a cv, publication list, and references with (contact information) to Professor Pirrung at Dept. of Chemistry, Duke University, PO Box 90346, Durham, NC 27708-0346.
  
  
• Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology Ritsumeikan University Kusatsu wish to mention that I have one postdoctoral position available. My recent research focuses mainly on elucidating the structure and function of photosynthetic antenna systems (see below). I will start the international joint research by a grant from Human Frontier Science Program ("Development of novel self-assembled photoactive devices" with Dr. Holzwarth in Muelheim and Dr. de Groot in Leiden Univ., three years from the middle of 1997). The postdoc by the HFSP grant should be engaged in synthesis of chlorophyll model compounds and preparation of artificial photosynthesis systems. As the position, I am looking for a young researcher who has good skills for organic syntheses. Ritsumeikan University has excellent facilities, especially for modern organic synthesis and for static and dynamic structural analysis of supramolecules and is located beside Lake Biwa and near Kyoto. I am very happy if you or your colleagues) tell me the candidate. Thank you. Recent papers related to this project: 1. H. Tamiaki, M. Amakawa, Y. Shimono, R. Tanikaga, A. R. Holzwarth & K. Schaffner, "Synthetic Zinc and Magnesium Chlorin Aggregates as Models for Supramolecular Antenna Complexes in Chlorosomes of Green Photosynthetic Bacteria," Photochem. Photobiol., 63, 92-99 (1996). 2. H. Tamiaki, T. Miyatake, R. Tanikaga, A. R. Holzwarth & K. Schaffner,"Self-Assembly of an Artificial Light-Harvesting Antenna: Energy Transfer from a Zinc Chlorin to a Bacteriochlorin in a Supramolecular Aggregate," Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 35, 772-774 (1996). 3. H. Tamiaki, "Supramolecular Structure in Extramembraneous Antennae of Green Photosynthetic Bacteria," Coord. Chem. Rev., 148, 183-197 (1996). 4. H. Tamiaki, T. Kubota & R. Tanikaga, "Aggregation of Synthetic ZincComplexes of Cyclotetrapyrroles," Chem. Lett., 639-640 (1996). 5. H. Tamiaki, Y. Shimono, A. G. M. Rattray & R. Tanikaga, "Synthesis of Isotopically Labeled Zinc Methyl Bacteriopheophorbides-d as a Model for Light-Harvesting Antenna Pigments," Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 6, 2085-2086(1996). 6. H. Tamiaki, S. Miyata, Y. Kureishi & R. Tanikaga, "Aggregation of Synthetic Zinc Chlorins with Several Esterified Alkyl Chains as Models of Bacteriochlorophyll-c Homologs," Tetrahedron, 52, 12421-12432 (1996) 7. H. Tamiaki, T. Miyatake & R. Tanikaga, "Self-Aggregation of Synthetic Zinc Chlorins Possessing "Inverse" Keto and Hydroxyl Groups," Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 267-270 (1997).8. T. S. Balaban, H. Tamiaki, A. R. Holzwarth & K. Schaffner, "Self-Assembly of Methyl Zinc (31R)- and (31S)-Bacteriopheophorbides d," J. 9. T. Oba, Y. Masada & H. Tamiaki, "Convenient Preparation of Pheophytin b from Plant Extract through the Useful C7-Reduced Intermediate," Bull. Chem Soc. Jpn., 70, in press (1997). 10. H. Tamiaki, T. Tomida & T. Miyatake, "Synthesis of Methyl Bacteriopheophorbide-d with 8-Propyl Group," Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 7, in press (1997). Contact: Hitoshi Tamiaki, Dr. Associate Professor Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology Ritsumeikan University Kusatsu, Shiga 525-77 Japan Tel: +81-775-66-1111 (Central) Tel: +81-775-61-2765 (Direct) Fax: +81-775-61-2659 E-Mail: tamiaki@bkc.ritsumei.ac.jp
  
  
• Academia Sinica, Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences: Taiwan, ROC: A postdoctoral position is open in the group of Prof. Y.T. Lee at the Institute. Over the past three years, they have employed the crossed molecular beams technique to elucidate the chemical dynamics, energetics, and reaction products of C(3Pj) reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons and hydrogen carbons and hydrogren sulfied in extraterrestial environments. Their investigations revealed that the these atom-neutral reactions established a versatile route to form carbon-containing radicals in the interstellar medicum (dark clouds and outflow of dying carbon starts), in atmospherse of Juptier, Saturn and its moon Titan, Uranus, as well as Neptun and after impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into the Jovian atmosphere. The prime directive of the new candidate is to extend these studies to explore the chemical dyamics of reactions involving boron and silcon atoms with closed shell molecules employing the crossed molecular beams technique. Candidates should send inquiries prior to to September 1, 1997 to: Dr. Ralf-I. Kaiser, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
  
  

Faculty Positions

Please note, unless otherwise specified, most faculty positions require a resume, short description of research plans and to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the specific university or college.