Professor JoAnne Stubbe receives 2010 Franklin Medal

Professor JoAnne Stubbe, Novartis Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biology, has been selected to receive a 2010 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry for uncovering the intricate processes by which cells safely use free radicals, for developing new cancer treatments, and for improving the production of environmentally-friendly biodegradable polymers. For 185 years, The Franklin Institute has honored the greatest men and women of science, engineering, and technology. The Franklin Institute Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious comprehensive science awards in the world. Among science's highest honors, The Franklin Institute Awards identify individuals whose great innovation has benefited humanity, advanced science, launched new fields of inquiry, and deepened our understanding of the universe.

Mo and W MonoAryloxide-Pyrrolide (MAP) olefin metathesis catalysts can couple terminal olefins to give as high as >98% Z-products in moderate to high yields with as little as 0.2% catalyst. Results are reported for 1-hexene, 1-octene, allylbenzene, allyltrimethylsilane, methyl-10-undecenoate, methyl-9-decenoate, allylB(pinacolate), allylOBenzyl, allylNHTosyl, and allylNHPh. It is proposed that high Z-selectivity is achieved because a large aryloxide only allows metallacyclobutanes to form that contain adjacent cis substituents and because isomerization of Z-product to E-product can be slow in that same steric environment.

This publication is the first solution to the 50 year old problem concerned with Z-selective coupling of terminal olefins.

Three-dimensional visible spectroscopy

Daniel B. Turner, Katherine W. Stone, Kenan Gundogdu,
and Keith A. Nelson

The Nelson group has developed a spectrometer capable of measuring three-dimensional electronic (visible) spectra. The 3D spectral solids created by the spectrometer contain more information than 1D and 2D spectra, in this case providing insights about the ultrafast dynamics of excitons—bound electron-hole pairs with Hydrogen-like wavefunctions—in GaAs quantum wells. The results show how pairs of excitons form weakly bound, Helium-like states that play important roles in optical gain and other phenomena of fundamental and practical interest in quantum wells and quantum dots.

J. Chem. Phys. 131, 144510 (2009)
Highlighted in Physics Today, 17–20 (Nov. 2009)
See also Science 324, 1169–1173 (2009)

TING RECEIVES 2010 ELI LILLY AWARD

The Division of Biological Chemistry of the American Chemical Society has awarded Professor Alice Y.Ting, Associate Professor of Chemistry, with The Eli Llly Award for her accomplishment of outstanding research in biological chemistry of unusual merit and independence of thought and originality.

Radiation Detection: Resistivity Responses in Functional Poly(Olefin Sulfone)/ Carbon Nanotube Composites

Jose M. Lobez, Timothy M. Swager
ACIE, 2009 (Hot Paper) Published online on November 27.

The Swager Group has shown a new way to detect ionizing radiation using an organic-based system. Post-polymerization modification of Poly (Olefin Sulfone)s using click chemistry affords new functional polymers, that can wrap carbon nanotubes and absorb radiation in a more effective way than other organic systems. Gamma Rays can be detected using blends of these polymers and carbon nanotubes, by following changes in resisitivity of the blends upon exposure to radiation and polymer degradation.