Anne Gorden

Assistant Professor

Emory University, B. S., 1996;

The University of Texas, Ph. D., 2002;

The University of California,

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2002;

The LBNL Seaborg Center Postdoctoral Fellow, 2003-2005.

261 Chemistry Building
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Auburn University
Auburn AL 36849
gordeae@auburn.edu

Current Interests:

Organic Synthesis, Ligand Design, Molecular Recognition, Environmental Chemistry, Actinide Coordination Chemistry

Our interests include the design and synthesis of novel organic ligands for the selective extraction of heavy metals or other compounds of concern to environmental or health protection.  In addition, we are also interested in the coordination chemistry of organometallic complexes for the purpose of understanding the behavior of these metal-ligand interactions. Our goal is to develop broad-ranging programs based on organic synthetic chemistry and apply this to problems of both fundamental interest and practical importance. In particular, this will focus on the study of the development of new ligands for the coordination of heavy metals for use in sensors and waste remediation, to develop new organometallic complexes that will enable us to probe the chemical properties of the metals themselves, and to develop anion coordinating systems to probe the characteristics that influence anion selectivity both as enzyme mimics and in sensors for ions of environmental concern.  This reflects diverse interests in several research areas including:

• Biogeochemistry - actors in environmental transport mechanisms;
• Supramolecular Chemistry - large molecule self-assembly, metalloenzymes;
• Anion Coordination Chemistry – sensors and model biological systems.

            Using molecular recognition strategies to develop sensors or waste protection methods for environmental contaminants, for example actinides or nitrate anions, will provide valuable tools as we seek to develop new technologies that will assuage our waste concerns while still taking advantage of the unique properties of these materials.

Representative Publications:

• Bharara, M. S.; Heflin, K.L.; Tonks, S.A.; Strawbridge, K.; Gorden, A. E. V. “Hydroxy- and alkoxy-bridged dinuclear uranyl-Schiff base complexes: Hydrolysis, transamination and extraction studies,” Dalton Trans., 2008, 10, 2966 - 2973.



• Bharara, M. S.; Tonks, S.A.; Gorden, A. E. V.; “Uranyl Stabilized Schiff Base Complex” Chem. Commun. 2007, 4006 - 4008.



• Wu, X.; Gorden, A. E. V.; Tonks, S. A; Vilseck, J. Z.; “Regioselective Synthesis of Asymmetrically Substituted 2-Quinoxalinol Salen Ligands,” J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, (23) 8691-8699.



• Bharara, M. S.; Strawbridge, K.; Vilsek, J. Z.; Bray, T. H.; Gorden, A. E. V. “Dinuclear Uranyl Complexes with Asymmetric Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, Reactivity, and Extraction Studies,” Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46,(20) 8309-8315.



• Wu, X.; Gorden, A. E. V.; “Method for Solution-Phase Parallel Synthesis of 2-Quinoxalinol Schiff-Base Ligands” J. Comb. Chem. 2007, 9, (4), 601-608.



• Gorden, A.E.V.; Xu, J.; Raymond, K. N.; Durbin, P. D. “The Rational Design of Sequestering Agents for Plutonium and other Actinide Elements,” Chem. Rev., 2003, (11), 103, 4207 - 4282.