Chemistry Commons^™

Liquid Carbon Dioxide Extraction Of Various Food Flavors: Evaluation And Analysis, Deven Lee Shinholt

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Sub- and supercritical carbon dioxide has been utilized as an extraction solvent for a variety of natural compounds. This requires the use of specialized high-pressure vessels. It was reported recently that common laboratory apparatus (centrifuge tubes) could be utilized in liquid carbon dioxide extractions obviating the need for specialized equipment. Various herbs and spices (including orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit zest, oregano, rosemary, sage, spearmint, nutmeg, black peppercorns, cloves, caraway seeds, and vanilla beans) were used as substrates for liquid carbon dioxide extractions by this straightforward technique. The extracted oils, containing terpenes and terpenoids, were then analyzed through GC/MS. Liquid …

Controlled Assembly Of Rodlike Viruses With Polymers, Tao Li, Laying Wu, Nisaraporn Suthiwangcharoen, Michael A. Bruckman, Dayton Cash, Joan S. Hudson, Soumitra Ghoshroy, Qian Wang

Faculty Publications

A practical method to assemble rodlike tobacco mosaic virus and bacteriophage M13 with polymers was developed, which afforded a 3D core–shell composite with morphological control.

Biodiesel: Tomorrow's Fuel, Today's Solution, Roberto J. Molina, Racheal A. Persuad

Undergraduate Research Conference

Study of physical and chemical properties of biodiesel fuels derived from poultry and plant fats.

Stereospecific Enzyme Isolation From Carrots, Jacqueline Greer, Eileen Rigsby

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Spectroscopic Studies Of Fluoranthene And 3-Nitrofluoranthene, Matthew Parks

Undergraduate Research Conference

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known byproducts of anthropogenic sources including incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. They are known to be teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. This study investigated the spectral properties of fluoranthene and 3- nitrofluoranthene using NMR, UV-Vis and infrared techniques. The acquisition of spectral data provides a means to identify these compounds in mixtures and can be used which to develop model formulae for quantitation. A 2-D NMR method (HMQC ) was used for assigning 13C peaks. The infrared spectrum for 3-nitrofluoranthene showed characteristic strong absorption peaks at 1323 and 1516 cm-1 assigned to symmetric/asymmetric nitro stretches, respectively. …

Light-Regulated Sampling Of Protein Kinase Activity (Ii), Collaborative Project

Dyson College- Seidenberg School of CSIS : Collaborative Projects and Presentations

This entry adheres to the use of the quad chart template to provide a succinct description only of the current research project undertaken by the participants. It provides for the following information

1. Participants and Affiliations
2. Overall Project Goals
3. Illustrative picture
4. Specific research/artistic/pedagogic foci

Trimethylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonate- Accelerated Addition Of Catalytically Generated Zinc Acetylides To Aldehydes, C. Wade Downey, Brian D. Mahoney, Vincent R. Lipari

Chemistry Faculty Publications

In the presence of TMSOTf, a wide variety of terminal acetylenes add rapidly and efficiently to aldehydes via a catalytically generated zinc acetylide. In the absence of TMSOTf, no reaction is observed under otherwise identical conditions.

Dispersal And Establishment Both Limit Colonization During Primary Succession On A Glacier Foreland, Chad C. Jones, Roger Del Moral

Botany Faculty Publications

Plant colonization can be limited by lack of seeds or by factors that reduce establishment. The role of seed limitation in community assembly is being increasingly recognized, but in early primary succession, establishment failure is still considered more important. We studied the factors limiting colonization on the foreland of Coleman Glacier, Washington, USA to determine the importance of seed and establishment limitation during primary succession. We also evaluated the effects of seed predation, drought and existing vegetation on establishment. We planted seeds of seven species into plots of four different ages and found evidence that both seed and establishment limitation …

Structural Determination Of The 5' Untranslated Regions Of Ire-Containing Mrnas, Chandra Sekhar Bathina

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The expression of ferritin and amyloid precursor protein (APP) is post-transcriptionally regulated by iron-regulating proteins via binding to a stem-loop structure known as an iron-responsive element in the 5’-untranslated region (5’UTR) of ferritin and APP mRNAs. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the conformation of the 5’UTRs of ferritin heavy chain (Ferritin-H), ferritin light chain (Ferritin-L), and APP mRNA transcripts from human and mouse, and determined the secondary RNA structures using selective 2’-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE). The AFM imaging did not provide high resolution structural information about these RNAs, whereas the SHAPE …

(+-)-3-Carboxy-2-(Imidazol-3-Ium-1-Yl)- Propanoate, Sara A. Reeb, Marlesa C. Shields, Kraig A. Wheeler

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

The title compound, C7H8N2O4, crystallizes as a zwitterion, with molecules organized into molecular sheets via carboxyl– carboxylate and N+—H_ _ _carboxylate contacts. These sheets are constructed from translationally related molecules that further link to neighboring motifs via _-stacking [centroid– centroid distance 3.504 (3) A ° ] and weak C—H_ _ _O contacts.

Development Of A Carbon-Carbon Sandwich Composite With A Cellulose, Matt Brown

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The development of a carbon-carbon sandwich composite with a cellulose derived core was developed and its properties investigated. This type of hybrid composite has never been made before. The goal was to combine the high temperature properties of carbon-carbon composites with the low weight of sandwich composites. In order to create a material with superior thermal properties and a high specific strength a carbon-carbon sandwich composite was developed utilizing a carbonized wood core. The composite was successfully constructed using an industrial grade carbon glue to hold two layers of carbon fiber weave on the top and bottom of the core. …

Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds. Bismuth(Iii) Bromide Catalyzed Synthesis Of Substituted Tetrahydroquinoline Derivatives, Ram Mohan, Jamie Rogers, Justin Ernat, Herbie Yung

Scholarship

The bismuth bromide catalyzed synthesis of a range of substituted tetrahydroquinoline derivatives via a three component coupling reaction between substituted anilines and enol ethers is reported. Bismuth compounds are attractive for use as catalysts because of their remarkably low toxicity. Bismuth bromide is relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, and hence preferable to other corrosive catalysts previously used for synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives.

A Simple Sn2 Reaction For The Undergraduate Organic Laboratory, John J. Esteb

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

A simple procedure for the synthesis of n-butyl naphthyl ether is presented. This procedure represents an easy method for the production of an aryl ether by an SN2 reaction, uses ethanol as an environmentally friendly solvent, and does not require the use of a lachrymator. Product isolation is done by pouring the reaction mixture over ice and collecting the solid by suction filtration. Students typically recover from 7–95% of the ether.

A Flexible Solvolysis Experiment For The Undergraduate Organic Laboratory, John J. Esteb, John R. Magers, Luanne M. Mcnulty, Paul Morgan

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

A simple SN1 reaction is presented that uses bromotriphenylmethane and a range of oxygen-based nucleophiles including water and various alcohols. This procedure represents a process that affords easy isolation of solid products. Typical student yields ranged from 17–128% with the average yield of 50%. Students obtained products with a melting point range of 140 to 164 °C. This procedure offers multiple ways to adapt this experiment from a straight solvolysis reaction to a discovery-based experiment that explores the effect of nucleophile (for a more advanced group) or the method of product isolation.

Bowl-Shaped Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (Buckybowls) : Crystal Packing And Metal Binding Reactions, Alexander S. Filatov

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This work is a part of a broad program in our laboratory dedicated to the investigation of a new class of non-planar polyaromatic hydrocarbons that map onto the surfaces of fullerenes (and referred to as buckybowls). It focuses on the preparation of buckybowls, their molecular and solid state structures, and reactivity in metal binding reactions. For the first time, the structures of all available buckybowls have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction data collected in the course of this work, as well as data previously obtained in our group or reported by others (and dearchived from the Cambridge Structural Database). Forces …

Arrow Pushing In Organic Chemistry: An Easy Approach To Understanding Reaction Mechanisms (Book Review), Jeffrey H. Glans

Chemistry & Physics Faculty Publications

A book review by Jeffrey Glans.

Levy, Daniel E. Arrow Pushing in Organic Chemistry: An Easy Approach to Understanding Reaction Mechanisms. New York: Wiley, 2008.

ISBN 9780470171103

Preparation And Characterization Of Some Substituted Benzyl N-Nitrosocarbamates Containing An N-2-(Methylthio)Ethyl Or A Bis(2-Aminoethyl)Sulfide Functionality, Satya Venkata, Eric Shamo, Vladimir Benin

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The synthesis and characterization of some substituted benzyl N-nitrosocarbamates with an N-2-(methylthio)ethyl or a bis(2-aminoethyl)sulfide functionality is reported, as a part of a long-term goal to design and prepare novel photolabile structures that could be used as substances for controlled release of alkylating and/or crosslinking agents. The synthesis was accomplished by reaction of benzyl chloroformates with the corresponding amines, resulting in the preparation of carbamates. The latter were subsequently nitrosated, utilizing two different N-nitrosation methods, to yield the target structures.

Partial Ion Yield Sspectroscopy Around The Cl 2p And C 1s Ionization Thresholds In Cf3cl, D. Ceolin, Maria Novella Piancastelli, Wayne C. Stolte, Dennis W. Lindle

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

We present a partial ion yield experiment on freon 13, CF₃Cl, excited in the vicinity of the C 1s and Cl 2p ionization thresholds. We have collected a large amount of cationic fragments and a few anionic fragments at both edges. We have observed a strong intensity dependence of Rydberg transitions with ion fragment size for the CF_nCl⁺ and CF_n⁺/F⁺ (n=0–3) series at both the Cl 2p and C 1s ionization edges. Selectivity in the fragmentation processes involving the C–Cl and C–F bonds are highlighted by the intensities of the C …

Microwave Assisted Solid-Supported Organic Synthesis: A Novel Methodology To Obtain 2,3-Disubstituted-1,4-Naphthoquinones, Israel Garcia-Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research focuses on the combinatorial solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS) of different bioactive compounds utilizing transition metal mediated reactions via microwave assisted organic synthesis (MAOS).

A microwave-assisted solid-supported Dötz benzannulation of chromium Fischer carbene complexes with various alkynes has been reported. The oxidative cleavage of the resulting resin-bound 1,4-naphthols affords 2,3-disubstituted-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives in good to moderate yields with high purities. We demonstrated that solid phase organic synthesis of naphthoquinones via conventional heating is limited due to their long reaction times and high temperatures. The products decompose leading to low yields and purities.2 Microwave assisted synthesis of these naphthoquinones will …

Design, Synthesis And Study Of The Bridged And Cofacially-Arrayed Poly-P-Phenylene Molecular Wires, Matthew J. Modjewski

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Two novel series of bridged and cofacially-arrayed poly-p-phenylenes have been designed synthesized and studied. The bridged poly-p-phenylenes have been synthesized from a readily available diacetylenic precursor utilizing three high yielding steps, and their structures were determined by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography. The racemization barrier between the two atropoisomers was found to be ~12 Kcal mol-1; the versatility of the synthesis employed was extended to synthesis a triply bridged tetra-p-phenylene and a quadruply bridged penta-p-phenylene.

The cofacially-arrayed poly-p-phenylenes have shown that the X-ray crystal structures of the neutral compounds are largely dominated by C-H--π-interactions interactions while the …

Generation Of Novel Pikromycin Antibiotic Products Through Mutasynthesis, Shuchi Gupta, Venkatraman Lakshmanan, Beom Seok Kim, Robert Fecik, Kevin A. Reynolds

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mutasynthesis in pikromycin PKS: The amenability of pikromycin polyketide synthase to mutational biosynthesis has been demonstrated. A natural triketide and its analogues, activated as N-acetyl-cysteamine thioesters, were synthesized and fed to a pikAI-deleted strain; this led to the production of new antibiotics. A vinyl analogue was found to have better antibacterial activity than pikromycin.

Preliminary Development Of Quantitative Immunoassays For Mitochondrial Proteins, Adriann Hovey

Honors Program Theses

Mitochondria are medium-sized organelles in which most cellular metabolic reactions are carried out. In postmitotic cells that are aged or diseased, such as myocardial, skeletal, and brain cells, abnormally large mitochondria ("giant mitochondria") are often observed. Mitochondrial size and shape are controlled by mitochondrial fusion and fission and disruption of this process may lead to their abnormally large size (Nauratil, Terman, Arriaga, 2008). These giant mitochondria exhibit variations from normal metabolism and altered membrane potentials (Nauratil et al., 2008). An increased number of giant mitochondria may therefore disrupt cell function (Nauratil et al., 2008). This accumulation may result either from …

Substituent Effect On The Electronic And Assembling Properties Of Asymmetric Phenazine Derivatives, Bin Cao

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Currently, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures have drawn much interest because of their potential applications for nanoscale optoelectronic devices. Self-assembly (SA) based on π-conjugated systems through various intermolecular interactions has been widely used to produce 1-D nanostructure. Morphology of the assembled structures can be modified by incorporating substituents, which provide additional secondary interactions. Meanwhile, those substituents also influence the electronic properties of the molecules. Previous studies have made little effort to systematically study subsistent effects on both electronic and SA properties.

The primary objective of this research is to generate controllable 1-D structures through SA, and to provide a fundamental understanding of …

Controlled Functionalization Of Crystalline Polyolefins And Their Application In Soluble Polymer Support, Jihoon Shin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Functionalization of polyolefins has been recognized as a useful methodology for the generation of new materials with a wide range of applications. Recently, crystalline or semi-crystalline polyolefins have drawn increasing attention in both industrial and academic fields as one of the most interesting engineering plastics, due to their remarkable physical and mechanical properties. This dissertation describes: (1) novel methods for the direct postfunctionalization of crystalline polyolefins to introduce functionality, (2) characterizations for the functionalized polymers to analyze their structures, molecular-weight properties, thermal properties, and hydrophilicity, and (3) an application of the modified crystalline polystyrene as a soluble polymer support for …

Towards The Design And Syntheses Of Novel Triads Comprising Single Robson-Type Macrocyclic Dicopper(Ii) Cores Flanked By Two Terminal Polypyridyl Ruthenium(Ii) Complexes., Leslie Shane Moody

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Progress toward the syntheses of new tetranuclear bimetallic complexes of copper(II) and ruthenium(II) was realized. The designed triads comprise a central binuclear copper(II) complex with a tetraiminodiphenolate macrocyclic Robson-type compartmental ligand. In the envisioned complexes, the macrocyclic core is further functionalized by attachment of two polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes. A novel dibrominated dicopper(II) Robson complex was formed by the 2:2:2 condensation reaction of 4-bromo-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,3- diaminopropane with cupric chloride. Similarly, a new dibrominated dizinc(II) was synthesized from zinc tetrafluoroborate and the same diamine and dialdehyde. The new dicopper(II) complex did not heterocouple with borylated substrates under explored Suzuki reaction conditions. …

Novel Lactide Derived Polymers; Synthesis, Properties And Applications, Dahlia Haynes

All Dissertations

This dissertation primarily encompasses the synthesis, characterization, properties and discussion of applications for lactide derived polymers. The methodology focuses on altering polylactide's (PLA's) dynamic and physical properties increasing its broad market utility in both traditional and non-traditional applications. The fundamentals of this work include understanding and enhancing the polymer chemistry and materials related processes through the use of copolymerization, fluorination, composite chemistry and materials science.
The first chapter discusses the important of this research with emphasis on current world issues that focuses on the feasibility of renewable resources and sustainability implementation. Modification of renewable resource materials like lactic acid is …

Oriented Cell Growth On Self-Assembled Bacteriophage M13 Thin Films, Jianhua Rong, L. Andrew Lee, Kai Li, Brandon Harp, Charlene M. Mello, Zhongwei Niu, Qian Wang

Faculty Publications

Fibrillar M13 bacteriophages were used as basic building blocks to generate thin films with aligned nanogrooves, which, upon chemical grafting with RGD peptides, guide cell alignment and orient the cell outgrowth along defined directions.

The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 7. Rearrangement Of Trans-Stilbene Oxide With Bismuth Trifluoromethanesulfonate And Other Metal Triflates, Ram Mohan, James Christensen, Matthew Huddle, Jamie Rogers, Herbie Yung

Scholarship

A microscale discovery-oriented experiment illustrating the rearrangement of trans-stilbene oxide using non-corrosive metal triflates as catalysts has been developed. The use of CDCl₃ as the reaction solvent eliminates the need for any workup and avoids the use of highly toxic boron trifluoride etherate as a catalyst and additional reaction solvent.

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes For Biological Applications, Lingrong Gu

All Dissertations

Carbon nanotubes with their unique pseudo-one-dimensional nanostructures and related electronic, optical, and mechanical properties have been attracting much attention for potential biological applications, such as biosensors, bio-delivery, bioimaging and so on. In this dissertation, recent studies and advances toward bioapplications of carbon nanotubes are critically reviewed, followed by detailed reports on my research projects concerning the use of carbon nanotubes as unique scaffolds for multivalent display of sugars and the relevant results from bio-evaluation of these novel nanomaterials.
Single-walled (SWNTs) and multiple-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were functionalized with amine-derivatived monosaccharides (galactoses and mannoses) and their dendritic constructs. These sugar-functionalized carbon …

Synthesis And Pharmacology Of N-Alkyl-3-(Halo-Naphthoyl)Indoles, Valerie Smith

All Dissertations

The medicinal values of marijuana have often been overshadowed due to the psychotropic, 'recreational' effects it brings about in a user. For hundreds of years the therapeutic uses of cannabis sativa were appreciated, but the inability to control the dosage of the main constituent, and therefore the psychotropic effects, rendered the drug a liability. The elucidation of the structure of this main psychoactive constituent, ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) by Gaoni and Mechoulam in 1964 opened the door to the discovery of a vast array of knowledge about cannabinoids. From the multiple classes of cannabinoids and the ways these compounds interact with the …