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| Roseann Kroeker Sachs Professor of Organic Chemistry Research Interests |
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For 12 years, my students and I have been interested in probing the structure of unique carbocations bearing a three-center-two-electron carbon-hydrogen-carbon bridge. This unique bonding arrangement is most stable between two ends of a ring that contains 8-11 carbons. In particular, it seems likely that the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups to the carbocationic center will enhance the likelihood for this bonding to occur. The problem can be probed using low temperature NMR, or with more traditional solvolysis experiments. I am also interested in probing this problem with computational chemistry. In addition to this, I recently spent a sabbatical studying some of the light-induced changes in protein structure that occur in Photosystem II as water is oxidized to oxygen. This, again, is a mechanistic problem. I used different infrared spectroscopy in these experiments. I am also interested in “greening” up the organic chemistry laboratory and some of my research may focus on developing inquiry based, “green” experiments, especially for first semester organic chemistry. |
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