Professor Elizabeth Nolan has been selected as a 2011 Searle Scholar. The prestigious Searle Scholars Program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who have recently begun their first appointment at the assistant professor level, and whose appointment is a tenure-track position. The award, $100,000 per year for three years, will support Professor Nolan’s research on the metal-ion scavenging and redox regulatory functions of protein components of the human innate immune response.

Professor Catherine Drennan was selected as a Searle Scholar in 2001.

UNDER THE DOME

The Department of Chemistry hosted several events at the Institute-wide Open House Day on April 30, 2011. Nobel Prize winner Professor Dick Schrock gave a talk on why he became a chemist. Professor Emeritus Dietmar Seyferth gave a presentation on the history of the Department, Dr. John Dolhun in his “Marvelous Molecules in Play” shows demonstrated a selection of live interactive chemical reactions including, colorful transformations, smoking balloons, invisible gases, magical polymers, flaming vapors, chemiluminescence, simulating the colors of fireworks, colorful electrolysis of water, plus many more. The lobby of Building 18 showcased graduate students posters and a poster from the X-Ray Diffraction Facility.

To see a slideshow of Chemistry events click here

Stereoselective Synthesis of Z-Disubstituted Olefins through Catalytic Cross-Metathesis Reactions

Meek, S. J.; O'Brien, R. V.; Llaveria, J.; Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H.
Nature 2011, 471, 461–466

Alkenes are found in many biologically active molecules, and there are a large number of chemical transformations in which alkenes act as the reactants or products (or both) of the reaction. Many alkenes exist as either the E or the higher-energy Z stereoisomer. Catalytic procedures for the stereoselective formation of alkenes are valuable, yet methods enabling the synthesis of 1,2-disubstituted Z alkenes are scarce. Here we report catalytic Z-selective cross-metathesis reactions of terminal enol ethers, which have not been reported previously, and of allylic amides, used until now only in E-selective processes. The corresponding disubstituted alkenes are formed in up to >98% Z selectivity and 97% yield. These transformations, promoted by catalysts that contain the highly abundant and inexpensive metal molybdenum, are amenable to gram-scale operations. Use of reduced pressure is introduced as a simple and effective strategy for achieving high stereoselectivity. The utility of this method is demonstrated by its use in syntheses of an anti-oxidant plasmalogen phospholipid, found in electrically active tissues and implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, and the potent immunostimulant KRN7000.