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Transparent West-Pacific: Frontier Advances In Earth System Science, Lixin Wu, Jiwei Tian, Weidong Sun, Hailong Liu, Tianyu Chen, Zhimian Cao, Zhao Jing

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The West-Pacific hosts a well-developed trench-arc-basin system characterized by intense fluid–solid interactions, making it an ideal region for studying multi-sphere interactions within the Earth system. Research on cross-sphere dynamic processes and material-energy cycles in the West-Pacific not only represents a core frontier in Earth System Science, but also crucial to addressing major strategic needs, such as global climate change response, sustainable use of marine resources, and protection of the deep-sea environment. This article highlights key advances achieved under the Major Program on West-Pacific Earth System Multispheric Interactions (WESPMI), in areas including multi-scale oceanic interactions, cross-sphere material exchange, plate subduction and …

Satellite-Derived Bathymetry In Island Coastal Zones: Technology, Shilin Tang, Yuye Huang, Yongming Liu, Jianping Yin, Deke Chen, Ronggang Huang, Shuang Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Shallow bathymetry data constitute the core foundational information underpinning the ecological, resource, and strategic values of island and coastal zones. Satellite-derived bathymetry has evolved into a key technical means for large-scale acquisition of shallow bathymetry information. Focusing on satellite-based lidar bathymetry, optical imaging bathymetry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) bathymetry, this study systematically summarizes the core principles, applicable scenarios, technical strengths, and inherent limitations of each technology. It is shown that satellite-derived bathymetry has undergone an evolutionary shift from theoretical construction to practical application, and from single-method, single-data-source approaches to multi-technology, multi-source data fusion frameworks. In the future, to meet …

A Hybrid Cooling System Utilizing Active Air And Phase Change Material Polyethylene Glycol In A Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, Arieleus Taine

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Batteries have become one of the most important components of electronic devices. However, a large issue lies in overheating batteries, which decreases their performance and lifespan. Although cooling systems have been researched to combat this, the combination of phase change material polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fans has not been observed. The purpose of this study was to determine if a hybrid system consisting of PEG and air cooling would decrease temperatures compared to individual cooling systems such as just air cooling. It was hypothesized that the hybrid cooling system would have lower overall temperatures as compared to individual active and …

Ultrasonic Extraction-Based Analysis Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Blubber From False Killer Whales, Michael O. Eze, Eva Borras, Mitchell M. Mccartney, Don R. Bergfelt, Kristi L. West, Sarah E. Hooper, Cristina E. Davis

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

In view of the toxic effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), fast and effective assessment of their concentrations in marine mammals is important for understanding individual and population-level health impacts. This study developed an ultrasonic-based method that is less time-consuming, uses minimal solvent, and thus is more sustainable than the gold standard Soxhlet method for accurate analysis of organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and benzene hexachlorides (BHC) in false killer whale blubber. This method was developed by comparing concentrations of POPs obtained using the traditional Soxhlet and novel ultrasonic extraction methods using blubber from false killer whales (n = …

Applications For The Quasi-Atomic Orbital And Constrained Density Functional Theory Methods On Catalytic Reactions, Alvaro David Loaiza Orduz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Selective activation of C–O, C–H, and C–C bonds underpins biomass upgrading, alkane functionalization, and CO₂ conversion. Despite their importance, the electronic factors governing catalytic performance remain incompletely understood, and many industrial processes still rely on empirical trends or material-specific observations. This dissertation addresses this gap by applying density functional theory (DFT), thermodynamic decomposition, and electronic-structure analysis to identify unifying principles of reactivity across transition-metal phosphides, vanadate oxides, copper-based electrocatalysts, and mixed IrO₂–RuO₂ layers. This work examines how charge transfer, orbital localization, and ligand-induced perturbations control reaction pathways in diverse catalytic systems. C–O bond scission in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) and methanol was …

Interview With Orca Award Winner Reuben Rieke, Unl Chemistry; Discoverer Of Rieke Metals, Mark Griep, Reuben Rieke

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Emeritus Prof. Reuben Rieke was awarded the ORCA in 1995. Reuben was born in Fairfax, Minnesota. Something in his youth must have sparked an interest in science because he traveled 100 miles east to The University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor’s in chemistry. Next, he earned a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, and did postdoctoral work at the University of California Los Angeles. In 1977, after about 11 years as a faculty member in the chemistry department at the University of North Carolina, he joined UNL as a full professor of chemistry. I’ll share two remarkable facts …

Optimized Photoemission From Organic Molecules In 2d Layered Halide Perovskites, Muhammad S. Muhammad, Dilruba A. Popy, Hamza Shoukat, John M. Lane, Neeraj Rai, Vojtěch Vaněček, Zdeněk Remeš, Romana Kučerková, Vladimir Babin, Chenjia Mi, Yitong Dong, Mark D. Smith, Novruz G. Akhmedov, Daniel T. Glatzhofer, Bayram Saparov

Faculty Publications

In recent years, hybrid organic–inorganic metal halides have been at the forefront of materials research. Typically, the functional (e.g., optoelectronic) properties of hybrid halides are derived from the inorganic structural part, whereas the organic structural units can add extra advantages in terms of stability, rigidity, and processability. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of two new hybrid materials in which the outstanding photophysical properties originate from the organic structural part. The new compounds, (C₁₅H16N)₂CdCl₄ and((Br)C₁₅H₁₅N)₂CdCl₄, have 2D layered Ruddlesden–Popper-type perovskite structures. These hybrids are blue-white …

Combinatorial Synthesis Of Protein-Polymer Conjugates By Post-Polymerization Modification Of Poly(Pentafluorophenyl Acrylate)S, Emily W. Kish, Thatcher M. Lee, Alexis M. Ziemba, Ama Boamah, Bianca Figueroa, Margherita Piccardi, Carey E. Dougan, Sarah J. Moore, Maren E. Buck

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Combinatorial methods for preparing polymeric biomaterials enable the rapid identification of materials useful for many applications in science, medicine, and engineering. In the work described here, we demonstrate that side-chain reactive polymers can be used as templates for the rapid preparation of a small library of diversely functionalized protein–polymer conjugates. The activated ester polymer poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) (PPFPA) was modified postpolymerization with substoichiometric equivalents of three hydrophilic primary amines to yield a library of amphiphilic, side-chain reactive copolymers. These copolymers were then conjugated to two receptor-targeting proteins, holotransferrin (hTF) and an engineered fibronectin-based protein (Fn3), through amine-activated ester coupling. We investigated …

Optimized Co2 Gas Sensing With Sns:Sm2o3/N-Si Nanocomposites Fabricated Via Spray Pyrolysis, Wasan A. Khalaf, Mays A. Hammadi, Mohammed J. Alsultani, Yahya R. Hathal, Mohammed O. Salman

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this work, tin sulfide:samarium oxide (SnS:Sm₂O₃) composite films were deposited using a spray pyrolysis technique for room-temperature CO₂ gas sensing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a polycrystalline SnS nature of orthorhombic-phase crystallinity at 10 at.% Sm ions, while 20 at.% Sm induced Sm₂O₃ as a separate phase. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) induced uniform grains and increased the surface roughness, enhancing gas adsorption. UV-visible absorbance revealed band-gap narrowing. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed vibrational band shifts, confirming the structural modifications. Gas-sensing measurements demonstrated 5.72%, 19.65%, and 9.65% for pure SnS, …

Enhanced Superconductivity And Vortex Dynamics In Quasi-1d Tas2 Nanowires, Mathew Pollard, Visakha Ho, Clarissa Wisner, Eric W. Bohannan, Yew San Hor

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report the synthesis of high-quality 2H-TaS₂ nanowires via a controlled two-step conversion process from TaS₃ precursors, achieving robust superconductivity with a transition temperature T c ≈ 3.6K, which is significantly higher than bulk 2H-TaS₂ (T c ≈ 0.8K). Structural and compositional analyses confirm phase purity and preserved one-dimensional morphology, while magneto transport measurements reveal an enhanced upper critical field μ 0 H c2 (2K)≈5 T, far exceeding the bulk value (_μ0H_c2 (0)≈1.17T), attributed to dimensional confinement and suppression of charge-density wave order. Magnetic characterization demonstrates complex vortex dynamics, including flux jumps and a …

Structural Characterization Of Peptide Nanoaggregates At Varying Concentrations And Their Impact On Cellular Responses, Malika Rozmetova

Theses and Dissertations

Peptide nano-assemblies can regulate cellular pathways in a structure-dependent manner. Here, we show that the enzyme-responsive peptide NapFFK(NBD)Yp forms distinct nanoscale assemblies at different concentrations, triggering differential ER stress and extracellular vesicle release in MDA-MB231 cells. These results highlight the importance of supramolecular organization in peptide–cell interactions.

Flux Crystal Growth Of Potassium Lanthanide Double Vanadates With Lanthanide-Dependent Coordination Number Variance, Hunter B. Tisdale, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

A series of potassium rare earth double vanadates is presented. Single crystals of double vanadates with stoichiometry K₃Ln(VO₄)₂ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, and Sm) and crystallizing in the glaserite structure type were synthesized via a molten alkali chloride/fluoride flux reaction. Different structures were observed depending on the constituent rare earth: K₃La(VO₄)₂ crystallizes in an as-of-yet unreported modification of the typical glaserite structure in the space group P2₁/c, likely due to its larger ionic size that results in an increase in the lanthanide coordination number …

Probing Feni Alloys With Atomic Precision, Scipio Han, Kaushik Rajkumar Jayaprabha, Xin Qi

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

We compared EAM and MEAM atomic potentials for modeling FeNi (tetrataenite), a rare 50/50 alloy found in meteorites. Picking 4 potentials, we calculated minimum lattice constants and order-disorder transition temperatures. MEAM potentials accurately predicted the experimental transition temperature, confirming that MEAM better captures FeNi's directional bonding.

From Sediment To Mangrove: Tissue-Specific Metal Accumulation In Red Mangroves Of Southeastern Florida, Sophie Welch

Honors Theses

Coastal wetlands near industrialized waterways face increasingly heavy‐metal contamination, posing risks to benthic communities and food webs. Mangroves can influence metal cycling through sediment trapping, root‐zone sequestration, and internal physiological regulation, yet their effectiveness in urbanized systems remains debated. This study quantified concentrations of 17 heavy metals in sediments and mangrove tissues from four sites near Port Everglades, Florida, examined tissue‐specific partitioning, spatial and temporal contamination patterns, and examined the mangroves’ role in mediating metal loads. Ecological risk metrics identified STB as a contaminant hotspot with exceedances of TEL values across multiple elements (Ni, Pb, and Zn) as well as …

Iron(Ii)/Cobalt(Ii)-Mediated Silicon And Carbon Quantum Dots For Nanozyme Activity And Fluorescence Sensing Of Hydrogen Peroxide And Glucose, Kang Qin

Dissertations and Theses

Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been widely studied as fluorescent nanomaterials for sensing applications. In this thesis, we developed two different nanomaterials, SiQDs and CQDs, and investigated their catalytic activities and applied them for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose. In the first project, Co2+-mediated SiQDs were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. The obtained nanoparticles showed obvious peroxidase-like activity toward the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 under acidic conditions. Moreover, a weak oxidation of TMB was also observed without H2O2, suggesting the existence of oxidase-like activity. To better understand the …

Microwave Synthesis And Characterization Of Fe2ptge Nanoparticles, Ally T. Fennell, David Carnevale

Chemistry Theses

Magnetic, semiconductor, and spintronic materials are vital to the functionality of devices from household appliances and sensors to medical and computing systems. This study discusses a novel synthesis and characterization of nanoscale Fe₂PtGe nanoparticles. The material was synthesized using microwave irradiation (175oC, 5 minutes) and characterized using XRD, XRF, TEM, and VSM. XRD of the synthesized particles correlates to a cubic crystal structured, indicating a face-centered cubic (fcc) platinum structure with iron and germanium incorporated in a disordered manner. XRF confirms the presence and relative ratios of iron, platinum, and germanium species. TEM imagery shows spherical nanoparticles with an average …

Climate And Environmental Controls On Forest Soil Organic Matter Cycling, Genevieve Goebel

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Climate change factors act on the soil environment in complex ways, known to disturb soil organic carbon (C). Rising global temperatures and alterations to regional precipitation and nitrogen deposition regimes may contribute to the intensification of global change by accelerating the rate of biological decomposition and CO2 efflux to the atmosphere. The magnitude and endurance of the disturbance to soil organic C across landscapes and throughout time that climate change factors may pose to soil C cycling are not comprehensively understood. These knowledge gaps in our field make it challenging to anticipate how soil environments and the vast ecosystems that …

Efficient Organic Molecular Crystal Structure Prediction Using The Density Functional Tight-Binding Method, Maureen M. Kitheka, Yan Jing, Yan Yao, Puja Goyal

Faculty Publications – Chemistry

Over the years, computational crystal structure prediction (CSP) for organic molecules has thrived as an area of research, spanning various scientific disciplines and having significant applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Within the field of batteries, redox-active organic materials (ROMs) such as quinones have received increased attention as promising electrode materials for rechargeable batteries. However, experimental determination of the crystal structure of intermediate species formed during the discharge/charge cycle can often be challenging. Incomplete X-ray diffraction patterns can also lead to difficulties in crystal structure determination for ROMs used in batteries. Use of a semiempirical electronic structure method …

Radical-Based Oxidative Pretreatment Enhances Biofuel Production From Lignocellulosic Biomass Via Hydrothermal Liquefaction, João Vitor Dos Santos, Louis C. Bondurant, Patrick G. Hatcher

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The sustainable production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass is a central goal in the transition to low-carbon energy systems. However, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), a promising thermochemical conversion pathway, is constrained by the high oxygen content and complex aromatic structure of lignin, which lowers bio-oil quality. Here, we used a model system of brown-rot-degraded white oak (Quercus alba) to test whether radical-based oxidative pretreatment could enhance HTL performance by converting lignin into more aliphatic intermediates. Oxidation was performed under simulated Fenton conditions using fixed Fe(II) (60 ppm) and two hydrogen peroxide concentrations (3 and 8 M), resulting in extensive lignin depolymerization …

Scanning Electron Microscopy As A Potential Tool For Distinguishing Charcoal From Dark, Oxidized, Biomass, João Vitor Dos Santos, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Lais Gomes Fregolente, Joao Marcos De Lima-Faria, Diego Stefani Teodoro Martinez, Patrick G. Hatcher

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Condensed aromatic carbon (ConAC) is widely used as a proxy for organic materials derived from biomass burning. However, recent evidence shows that ConAC can be also formed through nonpyrogenic oxidative processes. This study presents a proof-of-concept investigation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to distinguish charcoal from dark, ConAC-rich materials produced by ambient oxidation of biomass. Pine wood exposed to long-term iron-mediated oxidation was compared with unaltered wood and a controlled laboratory-generated charcoal reference. Conventional geochemical analytical methods, including benzenepoly(carboxylic acid) (BPCA) analysis, Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance–mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, confirmed substantial …

Superelectrophile Promoted Synthesis Of Heterospirocycles, Mariam A. Adegbenro

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Spirocycles are important scaffolds with a wide range of applications in material science as well as in medicine. The introduction of a heteroatom into the spirocyclic framework can improve its electronic, photophysical, and structural properties. Various reports have been published on the incorporation of atoms other than carbon into the spirocycle. The work outlined in this dissertation involves the development of synthetic methodologies for the synthesis of hetero-spirocycles via superacid-promoted cyclization reactions. These concepts are summarized in Chapter 1.

Chapter 2: Aromatic imines were prepared from 9-fluorenone and azafluorenones, and these substrates were reacted in the Brønsted superacid, triflic acid, …

Characterization And Antimicrobial Activity Of Lignin-Derived Compounds In Ground Hurd Tissue Of Cannabis Sativa L. (Hemp) Cultivars, Jourdan E. Lakes, Anjam Sadik, Robert C. Pearce, Barbara L. Knutson, Stephen E. Rankin, Bert C. Lynn, Michael D. Flythe

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Objectives: Characterize lignin-derived compounds from the hurd of 10 fiber/grain Cannabis sativa L. cultivars and investigate the antimicrobial activity of select compounds on the wasteful ruminant bacterium, Acetoanaerobium sticklandii SR.   Methods: Hurd was processed using an aqueous ethanol solvent system and analyzed via GC-MS to identify and characterize lignin derivatives. Antimicrobial activity of the hurd and three monomers was assessed using solid (hurd) and liquid medium (monomers) bioassays against SR.   Results: 27 compounds were identified, most as monomers but a few were dimers, ethylated derivatives, and organic acids. There were approximately equal G- and S-units with substantially fewer H-units. Several …

Enhanced Photostability Through Rapid Exciton Decay In Desymmetrized Cyclopentannulated Acenes With Strong Face-To-Face Pi Stacking, Chad D. Cruz, Karl J. Thorley, Zachary J. Knepp, Jared Wahlstrand, Gil M. Repa, John C. Stephenson, Sean Parkin, Lisa A. Fredin, John E. Anthony, Emily G. Bittle

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The photophysics of organic semiconductors impacts their efficiency in optoelectronic devices where exciton transitions, including singlet fission, intersystem crossing and the formation of charge transfer states influence the ability to convert between bright and dark states and to dissociate into free charges. Unfortunately, photodegradation and spurious signals often confound the results of optical studies, especially of important triplet states. Here four asymmetric cyclopentannulated acenes are synthesized and studied. This system represents an extreme in photophysics achieved via molecular design to fully quench the photoluminescence and bypass triplet formation allowing for comparative studies with other highly absorbing acenes. Rapid molecular exciton …

Raw Data For The Manuscript "Silicon-Stabilized Three-Dimensional Covalent Networks In High Entropy Diborides", Michael Yeung, Reza Mohammadi

Chemistry Department Faculty Scholarship

Abstract for data:

Raw data for the journal publication, Silicon-stabilized three-dimensional covalent networks in high entropy diborides. ReadMe file provided.

Abstract for Journal publication: 

High entropy ceramics offer a pathway to stabilize unconventional chemistries beyond traditional alloying rules. We report the incorporation of silicon into an AlB₂-type high entropy diboride, Cr_0.2Nb_0.2Si_0.2Ta_0.2Ti_0.2B₂, despite silicon violating classical Hume-Rothery rules for alloying. Arc melting produced a phase-pure, chemically homogeneous structure, as confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Silicon occupies …

Flow Injection Determination Of Fluoride For Total Organic Fluorine Analysis, Memona Zulafiqar

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals that have gained increasing attention due to their association with a wide range of adverse health effects. These compounds are highly diverse, with approximately 15,000 PFAS reported. Their exceptional environmental stability and strong tendency to bioaccumulate result in environmentally relevant concentrations that typically occur at very low levels, often in the ng L⁻¹ range. This chemical diversity presents a major analytical challenge, as reference standards are available for only a limited number of PFAS. Consequently, conventional targeted analytical methods frequently quantify less than 1% of the total PFAS present, leading to a …

Characterization Of Phytoplankton-Excreted Metabolites Mediating Carbon Flux Through The Surface Ocean, Yuting Zhu, Hanna S. Anderson, Eli Salcedo, Samuel E. Miller, Krista Longnecker, Melissa C. Kido Soule, Sheean T. Haley, Gretchen J. Swarr, Rogier Braakman, Sonya T. Dyhrman, Elizabeth B. Kujawinski

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The marine labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool is a dynamic reservoir of thousands of molecules that cycles approximately one-quarter of Earth’s primary production within days to weeks. After excretion by phytoplankton and other microbes, metabolites are rapidly consumed, resulting in low standing concentrations (picomolar to low nanomolar). Despite the decades-long search for labile DOC sources and molecular identities, marine phytoplankton exometabolomes are not well characterized, largely due to difficulties in measuring small polar molecules in saline water. Here, we profiled the exometabolomes of six axenic phytoplankton species representing key functional groups including a diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana CCMP1335), a …

Sulfhydryl-Functionalized Diarylethenes: Synthesis, Photoswitching, And Fluorescent Properties, Pramod Aryal, Jonathan Bietsch, Gowri Sankar Grandhi, Josh Choi, Guijun Wang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Sulfhydryl group (SH) plays important roles in reactions with various functional groups, especially in biologically active systems. Photoswitchable diarylethene (DAE) derivatives have demonstrated applications in many research fields. Among the many classes of diarylethene derivatives, thiol derivatives have not been extensively explored. In this study, we systematically synthesized and characterized a series of bis-thiol functionalized dithienylethene derivatives. The thiol groups in this series are attached directly to the thiophene, or through a phenyl or methylene linker. Each series incorporated both dithienyl cyclopentene and hexafluorocyclopentene bridges and total six thiol substituted diarylethenes were synthesized. Among the six sulfhydryl DAE derivatives, four …

Land Use Influences Dissolved Organic Matter Composition In The U.S. Coastal Critical Zone Network, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Elizabeth V. Whitney, Brian R. Moyer, Katherine L. Tully, Patrick G. Hatcher, Yu-Ping Chhin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Coastal watersheds are highly productive biogeochemical systems supporting robust coastal fisheries and contributing significantly to the marine gross primary production flux. These ecosystems are comprised of civil infrastructure, farms, forests, and marshes, and their diversity is reflected in the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Here, we assess the role of farming in influencing DOM from surface waters of six coastal tidal creeks adjacent to forest and farm sites in the US Critical Zone Network. Molecular fingerprinting using electrospray ionization - Fourier transform - ion cyclotron resonance - mass spectrometry revealed that farm-influenced DOM was enriched in nitrogen-, …

Multidentate Surfactant-Dependent Synthesis Of Giant Iridium Superstructures, Ramjee Balasubramanian, Maeren E. Hill

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Giant superstructures of iridium, comprised of smaller spherical and slightly larger anisotropic nanoparticles, were synthesized by reducing iridium chloride in the presence of resorcinarene, a class of tetrameric macrocyclic polyphenols, with sodium borohydride in ethanol in 30 min under mild conditions. These superstructures were characterized by a range of techniques including TEM, HRTEM, EDS and other spectroscopic methods. The impact of the macrocyclic surfactant, its features and reaction conditions in dictating the formation of giant iridium superstructures was evaluated. The packing density of nanoparticles in these giant iridium superstructures could be altered qualitatively by varying the duration of the reaction, …

Exploring The Limitations Of Substrate Scope In Dimethylallyltryptophan Synthases, Evan T. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Natural products (NPs), are the largest source of bioactive compounds in Nature, and are essential to the treatment of human disease. Nearly 50% of drugs approved for use from 1981 to 2019 owe some aspect of their development to NPs, either in terms of their structure, pharmacophore, or mechanism of action. However, NPs are difficult to structurally optimize. Chemoenzymatic methods for NP derivatization have been increasingly seen as practical alternatives to traditional synthetic methods. Prenyltransferases (PTs) are involved in the primary and secondary metabolism of plants, bacteria, and fungi, and they are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of many clinically …