Research Interests
Our research interests are centered on the chemistry of high energy reactive intermediates. These intermediates include atomic carbon, carbenes, monovalent carbon species and other energetic molecules. In our studies of the reactions of atomic and molecular carbon, we probe the energy surface traversed by highly energetic reactants on the way to stable products. In this way, we have been able to generate previously unobserved reactive intermediates as well as uncover interesting new chemistry of known intermediates such as carbenes, methylidynes and free radicals.
For example, reaction of carbon atoms with chlorofluorocarbons yields both CF and CCl. The chemistry of these unique monovalent carbon intermediates is currently under investigation. Other projects involve the generation of energetic carbenes from carbon atom reactions and the addition of atomic carbon to aromatic, heteroaromatic and cyclic unsaturated compounds to generate novel highly strained intermediates. In the area of carbon cluster chemistry, we are investigating the mechanism of the formation of fullerenes in arc generated carbon reactions and are studying the mechanism of the rearrangement of bridged fulleroids.
Our research group is also involved in the synthesis of a variety of carbocyclic and heterocyclic nucleoside analogs. These compounds are being converted to poly and oligonucleotide analogs. The goal of these investigations is the synthesis of poly and oligonucleotide analogs with specific base sequences which will recognize complementary sequences on nucleic acids and may serve as templates for their own self replication.
Click on the subjects below to see some recent research results:
1. The Formation of Dehydropyridinium ions
3. The Mode of Attack of Atomic Carbon on Benzene Rings
4. Why is the Rearrangement of [6.5] Open Fullerenes to [6,6] Closed Fullerenes Zero Order?
5. The Reaction of Atomic and Molecular Carbon with Cyclooctatetraene