Department of Chemistry University of Pittsburgh Issue 7 Fall 2010 Newsletter UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY CHEVRON SCIENCE CENTER In This Issue 1 Greetings from the Chair 2 2010 Distinguished Alumni 3 Chemistry Department History 2 4 Class of 1970: Where are they now? Alumni Updates 5 Honor Roll - Thank you 6 Faculty Highlights: Peter Wipf 7 Faculty Nuggets 8 Graduate Highlights: Kathryn Davis Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU) 9 Undergraduate Highlights: Kelley Peters ACS Student Affiliate News 10 New Faculty and Staff 11 Renovation Status Department Milestones In Memoriam Greetings from the Chair L ooking northwest from University Drive and Parkman Avenue, the Chevron Annex construction project makes it clear that major expansion is underway in the De- partment of Chemistry. Whether you enter through Chevron, Ashe, or Eberly Halls, renovation projects that are modernizing our research and instructional laboratories, as well as the gathering spaces for students, are apparent. New research labs on the east wing of Eberly Hall and the 14th floor of Chevron, with work areas that are open, flexible, and modern, provide a glimpse into the future for all of the Department’s research labs. Build- ing on the success of the new instructional organic laboratories two years ago, a compre- hensive renovation of the general chemistry labs will begin this summer. In addition to these research and instructional space renova- tions, new social and study spaces are being created in the Department. Escaping from its former life as a transit corridor, the Chevron lobby now provides a place to purchase coffee or snacks at the Bunsen Brewer coffee shop, to meet friends and colleagues, or to learn about the Department through posters and a touch screen display. In addition to these striking physical changes, the growth and quality of the Department’s research programs and educational curricu- lum are evident. Over the past five years, nine new faculty members have joined the Department, two of which started this fall— Dr. Haitao Liu, whose focus is the physical and synthetic chemistry of nanomaterials, and Dr. Xinyu Liu, whose focus is the syn- thesis of natural products at the interface of chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials science. The graduate program remains vibrant, with 51 students matriculating this fall and four of our existing graduate students winning national awards and fellowships. As the undergraduate program maintains its excellence and continues to attract the best students, we are expanding our course offer- ings (especially in the areas of nanomaterials and biological chemistry) and our opportuni- ties for undergraduates to pursue research and experiential learning. Our majors’ excellence is also recognized from outside the Depart- ment, including a Chancellor’s ScholarAward to Andrew Savinon and a Rhodes Scholarship to Eleanor Ott. The Department bestowed 19 PhD degrees, seven MSc degrees, and 66 BSc degrees to excellent young chemists during the past year. This newsletter aims to share some of the Department’s accomplishments this year with you. While no twelve-page newsletter can properly describe or recognize all of the accomplishments during the past year, I hope that the articles we have chosen provide you with a glimpse into our activities and motivate you to visit our website www.chem.pitt.edu to learn more about today’s Department. Lastly, I would like to thank you, our alumni and friends, for your support. Outside of the individual financial or volunteer assistance you provide to the Department, your suc- cesses and accomplishments help to fuel our commitment to science and to the education of our students. I hope that you will take the time this year to share some of your accom- plishments with us. May the upcoming year be productive, healthy, and satis- fying for you and yours.
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Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
LookingnorthwestfromUniversityDriveand ParkmanAvenue, the Chevron
Annex construction project makes it clearthatmajorexpansionisunderwayintheDe-partmentofChemistry.Whetheryouenterthrough Chevron,Ashe, or Eberly Halls,renovationprojectsthataremodernizingourresearch and instructional laboratories, aswellasthegatheringspacesforstudents,areapparent.NewresearchlabsontheeastwingofEberlyHallandthe14thfloorofChevron,withworkareasthatareopen,flexible,andmodern,provideaglimpseintothefutureforalloftheDepartment’sresearchlabs.Build-ingonthesuccessofthenewinstructionalorganiclaboratoriestwoyearsago,acompre-hensiverenovationofthegeneralchemistrylabswillbeginthissummer.Inadditiontotheseresearchandinstructionalspacerenova-tions,newsocialandstudyspacesarebeingcreatedintheDepartment.Escapingfromitsformerlifeasatransitcorridor,theChevronlobbynowprovidesaplacetopurchasecoffeeorsnacksattheBunsenBrewercoffeeshop,tomeet friendsandcolleagues,or to learnabouttheDepartmentthroughpostersandatouchscreendisplay.
Inadditiontothesestrikingphysicalchanges,thegrowthandqualityoftheDepartment’sresearchprogramsandeducationalcurricu-lumareevident. Over thepastfiveyears,ninenewfacultymembershave joined theDepartment,twoofwhichstartedthisfall—Dr.HaitaoLiu,whosefocusisthephysicaland synthetic chemistry of nanomaterials,andDr.XinyuLiu,whosefocusisthesyn-thesisofnaturalproductsattheinterfaceofchemistry,biology,medicine,andmaterialsscience. The graduate program remainsvibrant,with51studentsmatriculatingthisfallandfourofourexistinggraduatestudentswinning national awards and fellowships.Astheundergraduateprogrammaintainsits
This newsletter aims to share some of theDepartment’s accomplishments this yearwithyou.Whilenotwelve-pagenewslettercanproperlydescribeorrecognizealloftheaccomplishmentsduringthepastyear,Ihopethatthearticleswehavechosenprovideyouwithaglimpseintoouractivitiesandmotivateyoutovisitourwebsitewww.chem.pitt.eduto learn more about today’s Department.Lastly,Iwouldliketothankyou,ouralumniandfriends,foryoursupport.Outsideoftheindividualfinancialorvolunteerassistanceyou provide to the Department, your suc-cessesandaccomplishmentshelptofuelourcommitmenttoscienceandtotheeducationofourstudents.Ihopethatyouwilltakethetimethisyeartosharesomeofyouraccom-plishmentswithus.
May the upcoming year be productive, healthy, and satis-fying for you and yours.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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2010 Distinguished Alumni Awardees
HELEN M. BERMAN (PhD ’67G) Professor Helen M. BermanreceivedherPhDinChemistryin1967fromtheUniversityofPitts-burghunder thedirectionofGeorgeAlan Jeffrey, and stayedon forpostdoctoral training as a National Institutes of HealthTrainee. ShethenjoinedtheFoxChaseCancerCenterin1969,wheresheinitiatedand led a research program on nucleic acid crystallography and theinteractionsbetweennucleicacidsanddrugs.In1989,shejoinedthefacultyatRutgerswheresheexpandedherresearchprogramtoincludestructural studiesofproteins.Currently she isaBoardofGovernorsProfessorofChemistryandChemicalBiologyandthedirectoroftheProteinDataBank.
EDWARD R. BIEHL (BS ’58, PhD ’61G)ProfessorEdBiehlearnedhisundergraduateandgraduatedegreesinchemistryattheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofArtsandSciences.Sincethattime,hehashadadistinguishedcareerasascientist,educator,andresearcher.Dr.Biehlhasreceivednumerousawardsforexcellenceinteachingandmentor-ing,forwhichheisknowntoput theneedsofhisstudentsandpost-doctoralassociatesfirst.AsdepartmentalchairinchemistryatSouthernMethodistUniversityforthepast28years,hehasledthedevelopmentoftheirchemistryprogramandthecreationoftheirPhDprogram.Pro-fessorBiehl’shighstandardsfor teachingandresearchhaveprovidedsuperiorlearningopportunitiesforhisstudentsandhavesetanexampleformeetingthechallengesoftoday’seducationalenvironment.
BRUCE W. DIXON, MD (BS ’61) Bruce Dixon received a BS inchemistryfromtheUniversityofPittsburghin1961andanMDfromtheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofMedicinein1965.Aftercomplet-inghisresidencyatDukeUniversity,heservedonthefacultyatDukebeforereturningtotheUniversityofPittsburghin1975.Currently,Dr.DixonisanassociateprofessorofmedicineattheUniversityofPitts-burghSchoolofMedicine.HealsoholdsajointappointmentatPitt’sGraduateSchoolofPublicHealth. Inaddition tohis teachingduties,Dr.DixonisthedirectoroftheAlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment,apositionhehasheldsince1992.
H. LEE NOBLE (BS ’62) H.LeeNobleearnedhisbachelor’sdegreeinchemistryfromPitt’sSchoolofArtsandSciencesin1962.Followinga25yearcareerwiththeBayerCorporation,Mr.Nobleretiredasexecu-tivevicepresident.LeeistheCEOofNobleConsulting,whichspecial-izesinstrategicplanning,mergersandacquisitions,andthefinancingofstart-upcompanies.LeealsoservesaschairoftheBoardofDirectorsofFluorousTechnologies,Inc.andontheUniversityofPittsburghBoardofTrustees.
On October 8, 2010 of this year, the Department recognized the outstanding accomplishments of four of its alumni.CALL FORNOMINATIONS
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
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Chemistry Department History 2: On the Move—Our Commitment to Undergraduate Education
From the beginning, undergraduate educationhas been of paramount importance in the lifeof the Chemistry Department.The first chair,
FrancisCliffordPhillipswashiredtoteachanatomy,allbranchesofchemistry,aswellasmineralogy,ge-ology,botany,physiology,andzoology;literallyAtoZ.The first organic chemistry professor,AlexanderLowy(1918-1941)coauthoredamajor,widelyusedtext, A Textbook of Organic Chemistry, which wentthrough seven editions as late as 1951. There wasalso a companion text, coauthored with fellow fac-ultymemberWilliamBaldwin,A Laboratory Book of Elementary Organic Chemistry,thatwentthroughatleast twoeditionsandwasreprinted inIndiaas lateas 1947. Other important texts to come out of theDepartmentwereConcepts and Models for Inorganic ChemistrybyBodieDouglas(threeeditions),aimedat seniorundergraduates, andSymmetry in Bonding and Spectra,writtenwithC.A.Hollingsworth,whichfocusedonapplicationsofgrouptheoryatthegradu-ate level. Finally, what texts have had more impactthan the universally used and ubiquitous Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of College Chemis-try?Thiswasauthored,fromthethirdeditionin1949througheightheditionin1997,byJeromeRosenberg,co-authorshipoftheseventhandeightheditionswaswith Lawrence Epstein. Recent textbooks authoredbyfacultyareUniversity ChemistrybyPeterSiskain2006andPrinciples of Physical ChemistrybyDavidWaldeckin2009.
AstheDepartmenthasgrownandbecomearesearchpowerhouse,undergraduateeducationhasremainedapivotal focusofdevelopmentand innovation.WhentheUniversitybeganthehonorscollege,honors-levelcourses in general and organic chemistry were cre-ated.Aboutfiveyearsago,DavidWaldeckandLisaBell-Loncella (University ofPittsburgh, Johnstown)spearheaded the Computing Across the ChemistryCurriculum(CACC)effort thathas integratedcom-putationalchemistrytrainingintotheundergraduatecurriculum from the freshmen level through seniorlevel.JoeGrabowskihashelpedtointroducecomput-ermodelingandotherhightechimprovementstoourcoursepresentations.Mostimportantly,thechemistrycourseofferingscontinuetoevolveandexpand,espe-ciallyintheareasofnanoscience(ledbyAlexStar)andbiological chemistry (ledbyLillianChongandMichaelTrakselis).
While course work remains a core element of theundergraduate program, experiential learning isof growing importance. Between 80 and 90 per-cent of chemistry majors perform undergraduateresearch as part of their education.This experienceexposes them to the challenge of defining researchquestions and answering them. Our UTU (Under-graduates Teaching Undergraduates) program in-troduces nearly two-thirds of our majors to the
Another aspect of our commitment to under-graduate education is the excellence of ourACSundergraduate student affiliates, recognizedas anOutstandingChapterforover20years.UnderthementorshipofGeorgeBandik,studentsparticipateinmanyoutreachactivitiesinsideandoutsidetheDepartment.These includegivingdemonstrationsat local schools and youth groups, the SaturdayScience Program, which provides instruction andlaboratory experiences for disadvantaged highschool students, and many other activities. Thatstudentsparticipateandexcelintheseextraactivi-tieswhilecompletingarigorous62creditsequenceofsciencecoursesistestimonytoourundergradu-ate students’ commitment and the Department’sspiritofexcellenceineducation.
TheimportanceofgoodundergraduateteachingisrecognizedbytheDepartmentandtheUniversity.TheDepartment’steachertraininghasprovidedamodelfortheUniversityasawhole.EachyeartheDepartment holds the Hurd SaffordAwards Cer-emony to recognize outstanding graduate studentinstructors. The University has bestowed numer-ousteachingawardsontheDepartment’sexcellentteachers.GeorgeBandik,JoeGrabowski,andPeterSiska have won both Chancellor’s DistinguishedTeaching Awards and Bellet CAS Teaching Ex-cellenceAwards.ErickaHustonhaswonaBelletAward, andDavidPratthaswon theChancellor’sTeaching Award. This record of excellence is ofgreatpridetotheDepartmentandabenchmarkforallcurrentfacultyandstudents.
AlexanderLowy
For more informationon Professor Lowy, see
www.alexanderlowy.com
George Bandik performs a demonstration for students in the
Saturday Science Program.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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Class of 1970: Where are they now?Let’sturnbacktheclocktolookatsomehighlightsof1970.UndertheleadershipofChairWilliamEdwardWallace,theDepartmentofChemistry
C. William Angus (BS ’70; Advisor: Safford): Dr.AnguswentontoreceivehisPhDfromJohnsHopkinsin1984.In2009heretiredfromtheNIHandhasmovedtoChocowinity,NC.HeiscurrentlyaresearchassociateattheBrodySchoolofMedicine.([email protected])
Gary Cummins (BS ’70; Advisor: Douglas): GarywentontoreceivehisMD.Heworkedinfamilymedicinefor20yearsandwoundcarefor10years.Heiscurrentlyretired,albeitworkingpart-time,andliveswithhiswifeinNewport,RI.([email protected])
Richard C. Diehl (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen):Dr.DiehliscurrentlyretiredandresidesinCapeCoral,FL.
Timothy R. Drury (BS ’70):AftergraduatingfromPitt,TimothywenttoPennStateHersheyMedicalSchoolandgraduatedwithhisMDin1974.HedidhisinternalmedicalresidencyatRhodeIslandHospitalinProvidence.Since1978hehasactedasthedirectoroftheEmergencyDepartmentatSouthcountyHospital.Heismarriedwithonechild.([email protected])
Ivor René Fielding (PhD ’70; Advisor: Hollingsworth): Dr.Fieldinghasworkedasanindustrialresearchchemist.Heretiredin2000fromBP/AmocoandholdsthirteenUSpatents.Heismarried,andhehastwochildrenandfivegrandchildren.([email protected])
Jerry A. Jenkins (PhD ’70; Advisor: Cohen): Dr.JenkinsisprofessorandchairoftheDepartmentofChemistryandBiochemistryatOtterbeinCollege.Hehas recentlypublishedabookentitled,Workbook for Organic Chemistry – Supplemental Problems and Solutions,W.H.FreemanandCompany,2010(ISBN-13:978-1-4292-4758-0).([email protected])
Fran Rattay (BS ’68, MS ’70; Advisor: Cohen): FranretiredrecentlyfromBayerafter36years.HebeganhiscareeratMobay(nowBayerMaterialScience)asananalytical chemist, andhiswork includedcompetitiveproducts identification,plantprocessanalysis, and thedevelopmentofpolymersequencedistributionanalyticaltechniques.WhileatBayer,heoversawaRegulatoryAffairsDepartmentthatisresponsibleforproductcomplianceandregistrationwithEPAandFDAregulationsforindustrial,specialty,dyes,polymersandrubberchemicals.FranhasparticipatedinseveralTradeAssociationGroupprojectsoftheAmericanChemistryCouncilincludingajointefforttodevelopstandardizednomenclatureguidelinesfortheisocyanateindustry.HeandhiswifeDianeareenjoyingtheirsixgrandchildrenandspendtheirwintersinFlorida.([email protected])
George Rovnyak (BS ’66, PhD ’70): Advisor: Danishefsky):AftergraduationGeorgeworkedatSquibb(nowBristol-MyersSquibb),primarilyincardiovascularandoncologydrugdiscovery.In2003,heretiredfromhispositionasaresearchfellow.Georgewasmarriedin1963andhehasthreedaughtersandfivegrandchildren.HeisenjoyinghisnewsecondhomeinWestCapeMay,NJ.([email protected])
ALUMNI UPDATES:
Paul Rupert (PhD ’69; Advisor: Frank): Paul is aProfessorofChemistryatAdrianCollege.Healsoownsandoperates a commercialwinelaboratoryandhasbeendesignatedaCertifiedWineChemistbytheU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury–TobaccoandAlcoholTaxandTradebureau(TTB).([email protected])
Robert Joseph Radnoti (MS ’74):Mr.RadnotiisretiredfromtheMarylandStatePoliceCrimeLabafter30yearsinforensicscience-“morethanenoughforanysaneindividual!”Heiscurrentlybuildinganewhouse(doingalotoftheworkhimself)andflyfishinginhissparetime.
Christina Pampena (BS ’75):Christinaisafieldsalesrepresentative(SouthCentralterritory)forPPGIndustries,Inc.intheCalHypobusinessunit.CalHypo,calciumhypochlorite,isawatertreatmentchemicalproducedbyPPG.([email protected])
Jeff Moore (PhD ’85; Advisor: Butera):Jeffhasbeenemployedbyvariouscompaniessincetheearly80s,beginningwithBellLabsMurrayHill(FiberOpticsdesign)in’85.In1995hemovedtoBusinessAnalyticsandthenbecametheDirectorofBusinessintheIntegratedCircuitsOperationsandPlanningdivisionforATT,thenLucent,andmostrecently,Agere.From2000-2004hewasanadjunctprofessoratLehighUniversity.WhiletheBusinessAnalyticsDirectorforAgere,JeffspentalotoftimecommutingtoLondonandlatertoMunich.Hegracefullyescapedfromtrans-AtlanticcommutingbyworkingforUSA-basedFairchildSemiconductorasSeniorDirectorofBusiness.HenowcommutesbetweeneasternPennsylvania,wherehehaslivedsince1991andPortlandMEwhereFairchildCorporateheadquartersislocated.Jeffismarriedandhasa16year-olddaughterwhoisinterestedinattendingPitt.
Anthony Rosati (BS ’82, MS ’87; Advisor: Waldeck): Forthepasttwoyears,TonyhasbeenDirectoroftheDataIntegrationandDisseminationDivisionoftheOfficeofCoal,Nuclear,ElectricandAlternateFuels,oftheU.S.EnergyInformationAdministration,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy.Hisstaffsupportstheenergyanalystsincollecting,analyzing,anddistributingtheresultsoffederalindustrysurveysofvariousbranchesoftheU.S.energymarkets.Tonyhasonechildwithhiswife,Benita,offouryears.
David Muddiman (PhD ’95; Advisor: Hercules): DavidiscurrentlyProfessorofChemistryatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity.HewasawardedtheBiemannMedalbytheAmericanSocietyforMassSpectrometry(ASMS)inMayofthisyearattheannualASMS,whichitrecognizesasignificantachievementinbasicorappliedmassspectrometrymadebyanindividualearlyinhisorhercareer.
Randy R. Micheletti (MS ’01; Advisor: Wipf): RandyisnowworkingasapatentattorneywithK&LGatesLLPinChicago.
Amit Paul (PhD ’08; Advisor: Waldeck):AmitisworkingasapostdocattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillwhereheispartofanEnergyFrontierResearchCenter(EFRC).Heisworkingonhydrocarbonoxidationbyrutheniumandplatinumcatalysts.Amitandhiswifehaveonechild.
Eleanor Ott (BS ’09):Eleanorwasnameda2010RhodesScholar.Eleanor’sinterestsareinhumanrights,refugeeissues,andevidence-basedpolicy.AttheUniversityofOxford,shewillstudyforcedmigrationandevidence-basedsocialintervention,refugeeandmigrationstudies,andsocialscienceresearchmethods.
Faculty 1970
W. Edward Wallace, Chairman
Edward McCollin Arnett, Professor
Richard A. Butera, Assoc. Professor
James Clyde Carter, Assoc. Professor
Toby M. Chapman, Asst. Professor
Johannes Francois Coetzee, Professor
Theodore Cohen, Assoc. Professor
Raymond S. Craig, Professor
Samuel J. Danishefsky, Asst. Professor
Kenneth E. Daugherty, Assoc. Professor
Bodie E. Douglas, Professor
Paul Dowd, Asst. Professor
T.H. Dunkelberger, Professor andAsst. Dean, College of Arts and Sci-ences
Frank Oscar Ellison, Professor
Lawrence M. Epstein, Assoc. Professor
Henry S. Frank, Professor
Klaus H. Hofmann, Professor andDirector of Protein Research Lab
Charles Alvin Hollingsworth, Profes-sor
Kenneth Jeffrey Johnson, Asst. Professor
Frederick Kaufman, Professor
Robert Levine, Professor
Richard Hugh McCoy, ProfessorDean and Director of Graduate Pro-grams, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Foil A. Miller, Professor andDirector, Spectroscopy Laboratory
Alfred Leon Moyé, Asst. Professor
David Wixon Pratt, Asst. Professor
V. Udaya Shankar Rao, Asst. Profes-sor
Jerome L. Rosenberg, Professor
Hurd Winter Safford, Professor
David Philip Schumacher, Asst. Professor
Darel K. Straub, Assoc. Professor
Joseph J. Taber, Assoc. Professor
William Edward Wallace, Professor
Claude Edwin Wilson, Asst. Professor
Robert L. Wolke, Professor
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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Honor Roll A warm thank you to those who made donations from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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Faculty Highlights: Peter Wipf
Chemistry Professor Peter Wipf and his group developand apply the tool chest of synthetic chemistry to im-portant problems in chemistry, biology, and medicine.Theyare interested innewmethodologies,stereochemi-calanalysisbyspectroscopicandcomputationalmethods,synthetic strategiesandmechanisms,medicinalchemis-tryandchemicalbiology,andtotalsynthesis.Theyselecttargetmoleculesonthebasisoftheiruniquearchitectures,biological activity, as well as for showcasing their syn-theticmethods.Below,afewspecificexampleshighlightthisapproach.
Synthetic Methodologies.Startingwiththetransmetala-tionchemistryoforganozirconocenes,theWipfgrouphasgreatlyexpandedthescopeoforganozirconiumchemis-tryoverthepast20years.Theyreportedthefirstasym-metricprotocolfortheadditionofalkenylzirconocenestoaldehydesaswellasseveralinnovativecascadereactionswith imines. For example, the multicomponent reactionof alkenyl zirconocene, alkynyl imine and zinc carben-oid in thepresenceofdimethylzinc leads tonovelC,C-dicyclopropylmethylamines.Theformationofintermedi-atebicyclo[1.1.0]butanesrepresentsthefirstsyntheticallyusefulexampleofadoubleC,C-s-bondinsertion,andtheincreaseinstructuralcomplexityfromstartingmaterialsishighlightedbytheformationofninenewC,C-bondsinthefinalproduct:
Natural Product Total Synthesis.Tuberostemonineisamemberof theStemonafamilyofalkaloids thathasat-tractedincreasinginterestfromsyntheticchemistsinthelast10years.TheWipfgrouphaspioneered theoxida-tivecyclizationoftyrosineasaunifiedstrategytowardthemajorStemonaalkaloidringscaffolds:
Their tuberostemonine synthesis highlights a threefolduse of ruthenium catalysts, first in azepine ring-closingmetathesisandtheninalkeneisomerizationandcross-me-tathesispropenyl-vinylexchange,aswellasmethodologydevelopmentsfromtheirlaboratorysuchasthestereose-lectiveattachmentoftheg-butyrolactoneringtothetetra-cyclecorestructurebyuseofalithiatedABO-orthoester.
While tuberostemonine illustrates strategic and tacticalmotivationsfora totalsynthesisprogram,disorazoleC1andbistramideCwereinspiredbythepursuitofinterest-ing biological activities and fundamental computationalstudies,respectively:
Medicinal Chemistry. The application of modern syn-thetic methodology for solving challenging biologicaland medical problems is an extremely fertile field, andtheWipfgroupcontinuestoexploreopportunitiesinthisinterdisciplinaryandcollaborativeresearch.Sinceitsdis-coveryin1942,thecyclodecapeptideantibioticGramici-dinS(GS,cyclo[(Val-Orn-Leu-DPhe-Pro-)2])hasservedasaninspirationforthedesignofantibacterialagentsandantimicrobialpeptides,aswellasthestudyofconforma-tionalmimicry.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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Faculty Nuggets
Mitochondria are key organelles that perform essentialcellular functions and play pivotal roles in cell deathand survival signaling.Hence, they represent anattrac-tivetargetfordrugstotreatmetabolic,degenerative,andhyperproliferativediseases.Targetingmitochondriawithorganelle-specificagentsorprodrugshasproventobeaneffectivetherapeuticstrategy.Morespecifically,control-ling the cellular ROS balance via selective delivery ofanantioxidant“payload”intomitochondriaisanelegantemergingtherapeuticconcept.Inexcitingbiomedicalap-plicationsofpeptidomimeticdesignprinciples,theWipfgroupwasabletodesignandsynthesizeamitochondrialmembranetargetingsequencethathasshowninvivoeffi-cacyagainsthemorrhagicshock,age-relatedneurodegen-erativediseases,aswellasutilityasradiationmitigatorsandradiationprotectiveagents.
George BandikwasrecognizedforhisoutstandingworkwithstudentsinthefieldofchemistrybythemembersoftheUniversityofPittsburghGreekLifeandreceivedspecialrecognitionasanoutstandingpro-fessorthisyear.
Kay Brummondwaselectedtothe2010classoffellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.
Alexander Starwasnamedsectioneditor-in-chiefofthetopicalsectionon“Biosensors”forthejournalSensors.Also,hewasselectedtoreceiveafive-yearNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS)OutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientist(ONES)Awardforhisproject,“InvestigationsandMiti-gationofCarbonNanomaterialToxicity”,andhasbeenselectedtoreceiveaNationalScienceFoundationCAREERawardbasedonhisproposalentitled“SynthesisandExplorationofGraphiticNanocapsules.”
Michael TrakselisreceivedanAmericanCancerSocietyResearchScholarGranttosupportthe“Mecha-nismofDNAPolymeraseSwitchingDuringReplicationtoBypassLesions.”
Peter Wipfwaselectedtothe2010classofFellowsoftheAmericanChemicalSociety.AlsohisresearchwasfeaturedastheNewsoftheWeekinC&E NewsandinChemistry World.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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KathrynDavis(2005BS/BAfromHopeCollegeand2010PhDfromtheUniv.Pittsburgh) received her PhD in chemistry this past summer. Her research inbioelectrochemistrywasperformedundertheguidanceofDavidWaldeckand
Inthe2009-2010year,PLUorganizedseveralsocialeventssuchas iceskating,bowling,andhappyhours.PLUalsosponsoredtheannualfirst-yearpicnic aswell as theholidayparty,whichwasheldatPeter’sPubthisyearandwasagreatsuccess.
Wehave found thatourmembersareveryenthusiasticaboutparticipating in theseoutreachprograms.Uponfurtherinquiry,wehavereceivedcommentsfromstudentssayingthatsincethePittsburghcommu-nityhadsuchapositiveimpactontheircollegeexperience,theyhopedtoreturnthisfavorbygivingbackthroughtheseprograms.OthershavetoldusthatsimplyseeingtheenthusiasmonthefacesofouryoungvisitorsmadegettingupearlyonaSaturdaymorningworthwhile.Stillothersaremorepragmaticandreal-izethatbeinginvolvedintheseofferingscanhelpthemachievetheirultimatelongtermgoals.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ryUn ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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New Faculty and Staff
Haitao Liu, Assistant ProfessorHaitaoLiureceivedhisBSfromtheUniversityofScienceandTech-nologyofChina,hisPhDfromUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,and he completed postdoctoral work at Columbia University. Re-searchintheHaitaoLiulabisfocusedonthechemistryandapplica-tionsofnano-materials.Theyareinterestedinawiderangeoforganicandinorganicmaterials,includingbutnotlimitedtoDNA,graphene,carbon nanotubes, and colloidal nanocrystals. Current projects in-cludetheuseofDNAnanostructurestodolithographyonasiliconwafer,thesynthesisandchemicalmodificationofgrapheneandsin-glewalledcarbonnanotubes,andthemechanisticstudyofcolloidalnanocrystalsynthesis.
Xinyu Liu, Assistant ProfessorXinyu Liu received his PhD in organic chemistry from the SwissFederalInstituteofTechnology(ETH)ZurichinSwitzerlandandhecompleted postdoctoral work in biochemistry at Harvard MedicalSchool,Boston.Research in theXinyuLiu lab residesat the inter-faceofchemistry,biology,andmedicineandconcerns thestudyofbroadlydefinedtemplate–independentbiologicalprocessesinlivingsystems.Thecurrentresearchfocusofthelaboratoryistodevelopanextgeneration(bio)syntheticplatformthatwillserveasthebasistounderstand the biogenesis and signal transduction events related topolysaccharide,polypeptideandpolyprenylatedsmallmoleculenatu-ralproducts.Byunderstandingthesebiologicalprocessesatadetailedmolecular level, theyaim to facilitate thediscoveryofnovel therapeutics for the treatmentofcancer,autoimmune,neurodegenerative,andinfectiousdiseases,aswellasthecreationofnewenvironmentally friendly biomaterials for biomedical applications.While their strength lies insyntheticorganicchemistry,proteinbiochemistryandenzymology,theyalsointegratemicrobiol-ogy,cellbiology,biophysics,andbioengineeringintotheirresearchprogram.
John P. (Jay) Auses, Senior AdministratorJohn P. (Jay) Auses was recently named senior administrator(assistantchair)oftheDepartmentofChemistry.AnativeofWesternPennsylvania,Jaygrewup inJohnstown,earnedaBS inchemistryfromSt.FrancisUniversityinLoretto,andearnedanMSinchemistryfromWestVirginiaUniversity.Duringhisindustrialcareer,Jayheldpositions as research scientist, environmental chemist, technicalsupervisor, and quality manager at theAlcoaTechnical Center. HehasbeenactiveintheSocietyforAnalyticalChemistsofPittsburghand the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, once having served aspresidentofthePittsburghConferenceonAnalyticalChemistryandApplied Spectroscopy (PITTCON).Among his duties as the senior administrative officer, Jayassiststhedepartmentchair,overseesthedaytodayoperationsofthedepartment,andservesasthegraduatestudentliaison.
Depar tment o f Chemis t ry Un ive r s i t y o f P i t t sburgh
www.chem.pitt.edu
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Renovation Status
Department Milestones
RETIREMENTS:
BOB MUHA (2/1971 – 6/2010) Bob,adegreedelectricalengineer,cametousfromWestinghouse’sformerBettisAtomicPowerLaboratory.Underhissupervision,theDepartment’selectronicsshopgrewfromaone-personunittoawell-respectedandhighlyvaluedfour-personoperation.After39yearsofdedicatedserviceBobretiredtopursuetheartoffreshwaterfishing.
DENNIS SICHER: Machinist (6/1966 – 8/2009)DenniscametoworkfortheUniversityatage17,whenhewashiredtoworkforDr.RaymondCraigandDr.WilliamE.Wallace.AstheDepartmentexpandedanddemandsgrew,DenniseventuallybecamesupervisoroftheMachineShopandretired43yearslater.HenowresidesinFlorida.
NANCY WOODRING: Assistant to the Chair (9/1972 – 8/2010)NancywasapartoftheDepartmentofChemistryfor38years.OriginallyhiredaspartoftheDepartment’ssecretarialstaff,andshebecameassistanttothechairin1989.SheremainedinthatpositionuntilherretirementonAugust31,2010.
IN MEMORIAM:
NANCY SATTLER: Graduate Studies Administrator (11/1970 – 7/2000)Nancybeganherwork in theDepartmentofChemistryworkingaspartof the secretarial staff andeventually moving into the position of graduate studies administrator. Nancy always had a positiveattitudeandasmileonherface.Sadly,NancypassedawayonAugust28,2009.
Updates and expansions to Pitt’s chemistry facilities continue at a brisk pace.
TwofloorsoftheChevronScienceCenterarenowinfulloperationafterthecompletionofmajorupdates.Renovationofthe14thfloorhasresultedinanopen,efficient,flexibleresearchlabora-torysetting that ishometo threeorganicchemistrygroups. Organicchemistry instructionallaboratoriesonthe4thfloornowfeatureacentralcorefordemonstrationsandinstrumentationplusmodern laboratoryamenities thatareenhancingour students’educationalexperience inchemistry.
Thesteel frameworkhasbeenerectedandconstructionof theannex to theChevronScienceCenteriswellunderway.Theresultingstructurewillhousetwoadditionalfloorsdedicatedtograduateresearch.ThelobbyandmezzanineoftheAsheAuditoriumandthelobbyofChevronareundergoingamajorfaceliftthatwillprovidebrightandspaciousareasforstudentstogather,relax,orstudy;itwillincludeanewlydesignedstate-of-the-artcomputerclassroom,anditnowhousestheChemistrylibrary.Constructiononthe5thfloorofChevronandtheformerlibraryareainEberlyarealsounderwayandwillprovidenewresearchspacefortheDepartment.