Research Interests
Research Overview
Our research goal is to develop broad-ranging, state-of-the-art programs based on organic synthetic chemistry and inorganic coordination chemistry and apply this to problems of both fundamental interest and practical importance. We have two main areas of focus: the development of new selective actinide coordination ligands for use in sensors and waste remediation, and the development of heterocyclic supported metal catalysts for improved reaction mechanisms, reduced wastes and "greener" chemistry.
Sensors and Extractants for Actinides
One proposal to limit greenhouse gas emmisions is to increase the use of nuclear power; however, the potential for contamination of the environment with radioactive materials remains a concern. A resurgence of interest in actinide coordination chemistry (for example - Thorium, Uranium, Neptunium, and Plutonium) has been inspired by the need to develop new sequestration technologies and to further our understanding of the chemistry of these radioactive, toxic heavy metals. New ligands and materials will be required that can coordinate, sense, manipulate, and purify actinides for waste remediation and for use in decontamination and detection applications. This could include sensors or "sensing" polymers for rapid detection and isolation these metals in the field without requiring complicated laboratory equipment. Given that the remediation of nuclear fuel wastes is made more difficult based on gaps that remain in our understanding of actinide chemistry, we investigate lanthanide and actinide complexes featuring soft-donor atoms (i.e., nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous) to probe the differences in the chemistry of the f-elements.
Maynard, B. A.; Sykora, R. A.; Mague, J. T.; Gorden, A. E. V. "Actinide Tetracyanoplatinates: Synthesis and Structural Characterization With Uncharacteristic Th-NC Coordination and Thorium Fluorescence" Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 4944 – 4946.
DeVore, M.; Gorden, A.E. V. "Copper and Uranyl Extraction from Aqueous Solution Using Bis-dithiophosphinite Ligands" Polyhedron, 2012, 42, (1), 271-275.
Gorden, A.E. V.; DeVore, M. A., II; Maynard, B.A.; " Coordination Chemistry with f-Element Complexes for An Improved Understanding of Factors that Contribute to Extraction Selectivity," Inorg. Chem., 2013, 52 (7), pp 3445–3458
Maynard, B.A.; Lynn, K.A.; Sykora, R. E ;Gorden, A. E. V. Emission, "Raman Spectroscopy, and Structural Characterization of Actinide Tetracyanometallates" Inorg. Chem. 2013 in press
Quinoxolinol supported catalysts
As we become more aware of the impacts our activities have upon the environment, the simplification of syntheses and increased efficiency of chemical production will reduce waste streams. Thus, developing less-expensive, easier to use or more environmentally friendly catalysts is a promising trend for new synthetic methods. One way to approach this would be improving the stereoselectivity or regioselectivity of reactions, eliminating unwanted side products and reducing the amounts of solvents needed for purifications. Toward this end, we have developed a series of new ligands for metal catalyst supports based on heterocycles in the hopes that improved solubility and functionalization will provide options for specially tailored more efficient reactions taking advantage of bioessential metals like copper, as opposed to more expensive or toxic metals like chromium or rhodium.
Wu, X., Gorden, A. E. V.; "2-Quinoxalinol Salen Copper Complexes in Oxidation of Aryl Methylenes" Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2009, (4), 503 - 509.
Li, Y., Wu, X., Lee, T.; Isbell, E. K.; Parish, E. J.; Gorden, A. E. V., "An effective method for allylic oxidation of Δ5-steroids using ¬tert-butyl hydroperoxide," J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, (5), 1807-1810.
Li, Y.; Lee, T. B.; Wang, T.; Gamble, A.E.; Gorden, A. E. V.; " Allylic C-H Activations using Cu(II) 2-Quinoxalinol Salen and tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide" J. Org. Chem., 2012, 77, 4628 - 4633.
Weerasiri, K.C.; Gorden, A. E. V. "Oxidation of Propargylic Alcohols using a 2-Quinoxalinol Salen Copper (II) Complex and tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide " Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2013 (8) 1546–1550,
Collaborators:
Virginia Davis, Chemical Engineering, Auburn University
Laetitia Delmau, Separations Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Evert Duin, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University
Benjamin P. Hay, Separations Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Henry Y. Fadamiro, Entomology, Auburn University
TaeBum Lee, University of Notre Dame
Michael McKee, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University
Edward Parish, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University
Rodrigo Rodriguez-Kabana, Plant Pathology, Auburn University
David K. Shuh, Glenn T. Seaborg Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Richard Sykora, Chemistry, University of South Alabama