LVACS
Meeting
Dates for 2008-2009 Academic Year
Please note: Retirees and students may attend meetings at half price. Should a retiree wish to pay full price the additional funds will be donated to the scholarship fund
Next Meeting:
Past Meetings:
Times: 5:30-social hour, 6:30-dinner, 8:00-speaker
Place: Albright College, Campus Center South Lounge, Fireside (social hour and dinner) and Klein Lecture Hall (speaker).
Menu: Assorted Dinner Rolls w/ Butter Spring Mix Salad, Chicken Francaise OR Baked Orange Roughy with Tomato and Fennel, Whole Grain Rice Medley, Green Beans Almandine, Chocolate/Raspberry Mousse Parfait, vegetarian entrée by request
*Please specify a choice of entrée
Price: $25.00 (includes social hour), students and retirees 1/2 price
Directions: To campus: http://www.albright.edu/about/directions.html
Campus map: http://www.albright.edu/about/Printable-Map.pdf
Contact: Reservations by 4:00 P.M. Monday, February 15, 2010 through Nancy Kerper: (610) 921-7720; nkerper@alb.edu or Pam Artz: partz@alb.edu
(E-mail is preferred with LVACS as the subject). Please specify choice of entree
Speaker: Patricia Hill, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Biography: Dr. Patricia Hill, Professor of Chemistry, has been teaching at Millersville University since 1986. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Arizona where she worked on the synthesis and characterization of biologically active peptide hormones. In 1991 she developed a laboratory-based general education course for non-science entitled “The Molecular Basis of Color and Form: Chemistry in Art”. She has taught the course every year since then. In the fall of 1997 she worked in the Conservation Analytical Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution during a sabbatical leave. And during the academic year 2008-2009 she gained more experience with art conservation by working in the conservation laboratory of the Arizona State Museum in Tucson, Arizona. She has also developed and taught a topics course in forensic chemistry at Millersville University.
Title: Fraud, Fakes, Forgeries — Forensic Authentication of Works of Art
Abstract: On May 15, 2007 at Sotheby's in New York, a 1950 painting by Mark Rothko sold for $72.8 million, the highest price ever paid for a work at a contemporary art auction. The very next night at Christie's, a 1963 silkscreen on canvas by Andy Warhol went for $71.7 million. This makes art forgery a potentially lucrative venture. This talk will examine several cases of modern forgeries to discover how “forensic analysis” mimics good practices in art conservation with the goal of uncovering fakes and forgeries.
813th Meeting of the LVACS
Thursday January 28, 2010
Penn State University
Lehigh Valley Campus
Reception: 5:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Business Meeting &Talk: At the conclusion of dinner
Menu: Salad, rolls and butter, corn and glazed carrots, and country chicken, with a dessert of chocolate mousse. Vegetarian option available upon request.
Cost:$25 per person, so lets set the regular cost at $25, with students and retirees at 1/2 price
Contact: Reservations should be made no later than Friday, January 22nd at 4:00 PM with Marie Handwerk by phone (610-285-5000) or email <mam48@psu.edu>
Directions: available on the web http://www.lv.psu.edu/Information/directions.htm?cn716
Please note that Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus has moved to a new location!
Speaker: Michael De Rosa, Professor of Chemistry, Penn State Brandywine. Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Michael De Rosa has extensive experience in supervising undergraduate research; first at Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela) and now at Penn State Brandywine. At Penn State Brandywine he has supervised the research of 39 undergraduates. Their results have appeared in a number of publications with undergraduate co-authors, presentations at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and at other disciplinary conferences. This work has been supported by five grants from the National Science Foundation, with additional support from Penn State and industry. For his work with undergraduates he has received the Distinguished Service Award of the Eberly College of Science Alumni Society (2005) and Commonwealth College Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award (2002-03). He was a Fulbright Scholar at Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia (2005-06) and also at the University of Ghana, Legon (1997-98).
Talk: 2-AMINOPYRROLES: SYNTHESIS, REACTIONS AND TAUTOMERISM
Abstract: Reaction of 1-substituted pyrroles with N-chlorophthalimide gave N-(1-substituent-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)phthalimides.. Cleavage of these derivatives gave the corresponding 2-aminopyrrole without substitution on the ring. The unstable 2-aminopyrrole derivatives can be isolated as tetraphenylborate salts. Reaction of the salt with triethylamine can be used to generate the 2-aminopyrrole in situ. Similarly N-chloro-2-nitrobenzenesulfonamides reacted with 1-methylpyrrole to form derivatives in which the sulfonamide group was incorporated at C-2 of the pyrrole ring. The sulfonamide group was removed using a solid-phase thiophenolate reagent. Simple 2-(alkylamino)-pyrroles (alkyl = methyl, i-propyl, n-butyl and t-butyl) were thus obtained in DMF.
Diels-Alder reactions of 2-aminopyrroles with DMAD were attempted. Michael addition products were observed instead of cycloadducts. The inverse electron Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2-aminopyrroles with six symmetrical 1,3,5-triazines (CO2Et, CF3, Cl, OCH3, Ph and H) was studied. Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines were formed only when the triazine substituents were either the CO2Et or CF3 group. A multi-nuclear NMR study (1H, 13C, 19F and 15N) of the reaction of 2-amino-1-t-butylpyrrole with 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine in THFd8 indicated the presence of five intermediates. A zwitterion was the first intermediate detected and it cyclized to a tricyclic adduct and its conjugate acid. It also gave a neutral imine via a proton switch. The tricyclic adduct underwent a retro Diels-Alder reaction but the expected CF3CN was not detected. NMR indicated that the amino group of the 2-aminopyrrole was bonded to the CF3CN to form a trifluoroacetoamidinium ion. The products of the retro Diels-Alder reaction reacted rapidly with each other to give the final intermediate observed. Acid catalyzed loss of an amidine gave the final aromatic product. This is the first study in which direct experimental evidence for the order of steps, of the IEDDA cascade reaction of 1,3,5-triazines with amino containing dienophiles, has been obtained. This study, and analogous 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions in which zwitterions have been detected or proposed, have two factors in common: electronic effects that stabilize the zwitterions and steric effects that inhibit their cyclization.
Substitution by addition-elimination was observed when 1-alkyl-2-aminopyrroles reacted with 2,4,5,6-tetrachloropyrimidine. When a good leaving group was present in the heteroaromatic azadiene, reaction with 2-aminopyrroles occurred by addition-elimination instead of cycloaddition.
All previous experimental and theoretical studies of amino/imino tautomerism in 2-aminopyrroles have been carried out with compounds with primary amino groups. Amino/imino tautomerism was observed in secondary 2-aminopyrroles when an electron-withdrawing group (a trichloropyrimidine substituent) was on the exo amino group. No imino tautomer was detected by 1H NMR when the heteroaryl substituent was on C-3, C-5 or the exo amino substituent was an alkyl group. This would seem to suggest that conjugation of the exo nitrogen with the trichloropyrimidine ring was necessary to observe tautomerism. The amino tautomer was favored in solvents that were hydrogen bond acceptors.
812th Meeting of the LVACS
November 12, 2009
Lehigh University
Reception and Tours: 5:30 Ben Franklin TechVentures http://tinyurl.com/lvacslehighu1109
Dinner: 6:15 pm Stabler Observation Tower, Iacocca Hall http://tinyurl.com/LVACSDINNER
Meeting and Talk: At the conclusion of the meal
Note: A reception and building tour of the new Ben Franklin incubator laboratory and an opportunity to meet the chemists in the new start-up companies will precede the dinner. Learn about the future of corporate chemistry in the Lehigh Valley.
Menu: California Cuisine buffet
Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup
California Spinach, Candied Walnuts, Oranges and Goat Cheese with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Shrimp and Scallop Sourdough Strata with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic
Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken with Artichoke, Prosciutto and Basil Sauce
White and Wild Rice Pilaf with Leeks, Corn and Peppers
Mixed Roasted Vegetables Romesco
Assorted Rolls with Butter
Fresh Mixed FruitTart
Cost: $20 Members; $10 Students and Retirees, Cash or check payable to “Chemistry – Lehigh University”
Contact: JoAnn DeSalvatore, 610-758-3471, chemgrad@Lehigh.EDU by November 6th @4 pm to reserve your spot!
Speaker: R. Chadwick Paul, Jr.
R. Chadwick (“Chad”) Paul, Jr., is the President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, an organization that invests in early-stage technology firms and established manufacturers and has received international recognition as a model economic development program. Chad has 33 years of entrepreneurial business experience and has started, secured investments for, or facilitated the merger of nearly two dozen companies. Chad founded Chadwick Telephone in 1976 while still in graduate school, and served as its President and CEO, building the company from a start-up to a significant multi-state corporation through 1997, when the company was merged with a public company. Presently, Chad serves as a Director and Member of the Technology Risk Committee of National Penn Bancshares and as Chairman of the Achievement Foundation, a national organization that awards college scholarships to students who have participated in U.S. Junior Achievement Programs. He earned his BS in Economics and MBA from Lehigh University.
Topic: New Chemistry in the Lehigh Valley
Fifty years ago, chemists in the greater Lehigh Valley found employment in the thriving R&D labs of GAF, Easton; Bethlehem Steel, Bethlehem; Althouse Color & Dye, Reading; Atlas Powder, Tamaqua; New Jersey Zinc, Palmerton and Friedensville; and Air Products, Trexlertown. These Fortune 500 firms, with their extensive research laboratories, are either gone or substantially restructured to a smaller, more focused mission. However, in the 21st century the Lehigh Valley hums with the vigor of dozens of small start-up firms in the chemical and material sciences. Some of these start-ups, such as OraSure Technologies and Digestive Care, have already grown to be significant employers of scientists while others, including Lehigh Nanotech, Saladax Biomedical, and Surface Chemistry Discoveries have aspirations in that direction. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has nurtured more than 44 successful start-ups in its incubator/post-incubator facility on Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus, and has provided investments and business and technical support to many others. This presentation provides a snapshot of new technology-driven companies in the Lehigh Valley and the role that Ben Franklin has played and plans to play in revitalizing molecular sciences and technologies in our region.
811th Meeting of the LVACS
Friday, October 9, 2009
Muhlenberg College
Reception: 5:30 - 6:00, Seegers Union Room 113 (The Great Room)
Dinner: 6:00, Seegers Union Room 113
Business Meeting: During dessert
Talk: 7:15, Trumbower Room 130
Menu: choice of: chicken picata, roasted salmon in a balsamic glaze, or vegetarian ravioli. Includes salad, vegetable, couscous, dessert, coffee.
Cost: $20 for members, $10 for students and retirees
Contact: Send reservation information to banderso@muhlenberg.edu or call 484-664-3260 and leave a message with your name, affiliation, and meal selection.
Directions:on the web at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/muhlinfo/directions.html
Speaker: Dr. Kian Tan
Kian Tan joined the faculty at Boston College in 2006 as an assistant professor. Kian received his B.S. degree from the University of Virginia. While at UVA he worked in the labs of Professor Dean Harman in which he explored the chemistry of Os(II) complexes. Upon graduating Kian attended the University of California-Berkeley, where he received his Ph.D. At Berkeley, he pursued a collaborative project with Professors Jonathan Ellman and Robert Bergman. Over the course of his Ph.D. he developed and studied the mechanism of a novel coupling reaction between heterocyclic C-H bonds and olefins. Upon completion of his degree, Kian joined the Jacobsen group at Harvard University as an NIH post-doctoral fellow. During his time in the Jacobsen group Kian designed and synthesized an urea-based catalyst that promotes the asymmetric allylation of hydrazones.
Talk: Catalytic Scaffolding Ligands: an Efficient Directing Group Strategy
Abstract: There is a fundamental need to develop chemical transformations that are highly selective and atom-economical. Directing groups have played a pivotal role in controlling regio- and stereochemistry in a range of organic transformations. However, often directing-group strategies require the introduction of stoichiometric quantities of synthetically undesirable functional groups (such as phosphines) into the organic substrates. We are developing a new class of ligands that address this limitation. We have synthesized ligands that simultaneously and reversibly bind to a metal catalyst and common organic functional groups (such as alcohols and amines). By using a ligand as a scaffold to temporarily join the catalyst and substrate together, the power of directing groups to controlselectivity is coupled to the practicality of catalysis. The value of the scaffolding strategy is that we can apply a synthetically useful functional group to bind to the ligand, and then tailor the ligand for optimal performance in the desired transformation.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Reception: 5:30 - 7:00 PM - Cheese Plate Appetizer, Wine tasting
Dinner: 7:00 PM
Meeting: Business Meeting at the Conclusion of Dinner
Menu: Choice of Chicken Primavera with Seasonal Vegetables or Eggplant Rollatini, Bread, Rolls, Butter & Salad, Dessert TBD
Cost: members $20, spouses, students & retirees $10
Contact: Chester Crane by 4PM, Tuesday May 12.
Please provide choice of entree and affiliation.
ccrane9@yahoo.com or 610-498-2015 - email contact preferred.
Directions: So, how do you get here? From 22 or 78, take Route 33 north to the Saylorsburg Exit (you'll see us from the highway.) Make a right on Upper Cherry Valley Road. Take a Left on Old Route 115 and then another left on Lower Cherry Valley Road.
From Route 80, take 33 South to the Saylorsburg exit. Take a Left on Old Route 115 and then another left on Lower Cherry Valley Road.
About Cherry Valley:
808th Meeting of the LVACS
Moravian College
Student Awards Night and Undergraduate Poster Session
Students are encouraged to attend
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Location: Moravian College – North Campus
Reception and Undergraduate Student Research Poster Session: 5:00 – 6:15 pm, Lobby Collier Hall of Science
Dinner: 6:15 pm – UBC Room, Haupert Union Building
Meeting, Talk, and Student Awards Presentation : 7:30 pm Dana Lecture Hall, Collier Hall of Science
Menu: Buffet featuring Baked Chicken Breast with Pineapple/Orange Sauce and Pasta Primavera (for Vegetarians)
Cost: members $20, students & retirees $10
Contact: Reservations: LouAnn Vlahovic by Noon, Thursday, April 23rd. Please include your name, affiliation, and for students whether they are an awardee, poster presenter or both. Registration can be made by phone (610-861-1425) or by email melnv01@moravian.edu (the last two digits are numbers). Please put LVACS Registration in the subject line. (Note: email registrations will be confirmed by a return email.)
Directions: Directions to Moravian can be found on the web at http://www.moravian.edu/admission/directions.htm. Suggested parking is in Lots M, N, & O, along Locust Street. A campus map is available at http://www.moravian.edu/campusMaps/north.htm.
Speaker: Valerie Kuck
"Writing a Winning Resume for a Tight Job Market"
Abstract:
The current economy requires job seekers to know the skills and knowledge that employers currently are seeking. A concise resume clearly showing a good match with the job requirements is essential to getting an interview. This talk will address ways to assist both experienced chemists and students in preparing effective resumes. In addition, pointers will be given on preparing for an interview.
Brief Biography:
Valerie Kuck received a BA in Chemistry from Saint-Mary of the Woods College in Indiana and a MS from Purdue University. In 2001 she retired from Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ, where she had worked for 34 years. Her research was in both fundamental and applied areas and has been granted 21 U.S. patents dealing mostly with coatings and waveguide devices. Currently, she is an adjunct professor in the Chemistry Department at the College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ. In 1997, Ms. Kuck became a Career Consultant for the ACS and has assisted hundreds of members in preparing their resumes. In 1999 she established the North Jersey Section’s Careers in Transition Group. She chairs the Group’s monthly meetings which address topics such as resumes, job searching and interviews.
807th Meeting of the LVACS
Muhlenberg College
High School Teachers Night
Friday March 27, 2009
Location: Muhlenberg College
Reception: 5:00 PM light refreshments
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Menu: Choice of Marinated flank steak with potatoes, Chablis dijon breast of chicken with baked stuffed potato or cheest tortellini broccoli and fennel with Alfredo sauce
Talk: 7:30 PM
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: LuAnn in the Chemistry office at 484-664-3260 or luann.feist@gw.muhlenberg.edu. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail and meal choice.
Directions: Visit the Muhlenberg website at www.muhlenberg.esu
Speaker: Joan Harvey
Topic: Flavor Scientist Joan Harvey combines flavors to create new and different candies and gums. She asks questions like, “Why does a flavor used in soda not taste the same in chewing gum?” Or, “Why do people taste things differently so that some people like bananas and others don’t?” Join the Flavor Tasters and learn about making new candies and gums. At kidsciencechallenge.com you can find fun flavor making and tasting projects, then compare your new flavors with other Flavor Tasters!
Samples will be provided!
806th Meeting of the LVACS
Cedar Crest College
805th Meeting of the LVACS
Penn State University
Lehigh Valley
Date: November 12, 2008
Location: Lehigh University, Asa Packer Dining Room
Reception: 6:00 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Meeting:7:30 PM
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting
Menu: *NYC Restaurant Special*
Waldorf Salad with Frisee Lettuce, Chicken in a Wild Mushroom Parmesan Cream Sauce, Spinach Torta with Fresh Herbs and Mozzarella Cheese, Buttermilk and Chive Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Asparagus NY Style Cheesecake
Cost: $20 Members; $10 Students and Retirees
Contact: JoAnn DeSalvatore, 610-758-3471, jmd207@Lehigh.EDU
Directions: On the web at http://www3.lehigh.edu/about/maps/default.asp
Talk: Strengthening our Academic Foundations: Report from an NSF ADVANCE Project On the Status of Women Chemistry Faculty in Doctoral Granting Universities
Speaker: Sally Chapman, Professor of Chemistry, Barnard College
Concerned by the paucity of tenured women faculty members in doctoral granting universities, the ACS with the financial assistance of an NSF Grant undertook Project Progress. Dr. Chapman served as PI on the grant and supervised the study. Written surveys and oral interviews in focus groups and were conducted with 877 men and women, including administrators, faculty members, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students, during one-day site visits at chemistry and chemical engineering departments in 28 Ph.D.-granting institutions. A preliminary review of the perceptions of the climate for women scientists based on the data collected during these visits has been completed. Discrimination on both the individual and institutional level still persists, and changing this reality presents a serious challenge to advocates of gender equity. Some recommendations are offered by the team which performed the study.
Dr. Sally Chapman was educated at Smith College and received her PhD from Yale. After postdoctoral experiences at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley she joined the faculty of Barnard where she has served multiple terms as Department Chair and has been the holder of the Ann Whitney Olin professorship. Sally has also chaired the ACS Committee on Professional Training and the Petroleum Research Fund Advisory Board. She has more than 30 publications mostly on the thermodynamics and kinetics of gas phase reactions.
803rd Meeting of the LVACS
Lafayette College
Abstract
Using Silicon to Design New Pharmaceuticals
Silicon is the second most abundant element, and the element closest to carbon in its properties. Despite more than a century of organosilane research, only two silanes are produced commercially because of their biological activity, with silicon replacing a quaternary carbon. Unlike carbondiols (X=C) that dehydrate to ketones, silanediols (X=Si) do not dehydrate to give silanones. We have employed this property to design protease inhibitors where a silanediol mimics a hydrated amide carbonyl. These are more complex than any silanediols previously prepared and they have stimulated a broad investigation of organosilane chemistry.
Protease inhibitors are an important class of drugs, applicable to almost any disease. Our silanediols have been found to be reliable protease inhibitor design components, leading to low nanomolar inhibitors of an aspartic protease (HIV protease) and metalloproteases (thermolysin, angiotensin-converting enzyme).
Please note: Retirees and students may attend meetings at half price. Should a retiree wish to pay full price the additional funds will be donated to the scholarship fund
Next Meeting:
815th Meeting of the
LVACS
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cedar Crest College - Spouse’s Night
Reception: 6 PM Tompkins College Center, Alcove A, cheese/crackers, beverages
Dinner: 6:30 PM Tompkins College Center, 1867 Room
Business Meeting: at conclusion of dinner
Talk: at conclusion of business meeting
Menu: Chicken Prima-Rosa, red skin potatoes, roasted asparagus, dessert & coffee. Vegetarian option: Mediterranean pasta
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students, Spouses & retirees)
Contact: cbovee@cedarcrest.edu by Monday, March 22, 2010. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail
Directions: on the web at http://www.cedarcrest.edu/ca/admissions/bycar.shtm
Speaker: Ms. Patty Valente
Flavor Chemist, Hagelin & Co. Flavor Technologies, Branchburg, NJ
Biography: Patty Valente obtained her BS at Cook College, Rutgers and her MS at Seton Hall University. She has 25 years experience in flavor creation. She was formerly with Givaudan and International Flavors and Fragrances, and is now a Senior flavorist with Hagelin & Co Flavor Technologies in Branchburg, NJ
Talk: Tasted any Good Chemicals Lately? The Chemistry of Flavor
Abstract: This talk will address the chemistry of flavors including:
- a brief history of flavor creation and the roles of chemistry.
- the art and science of flavor creation
- the cast of characters
- meeting the family
- conclusion/discussion and industry association
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cedar Crest College - Spouse’s Night
Reception: 6 PM Tompkins College Center, Alcove A, cheese/crackers, beverages
Dinner: 6:30 PM Tompkins College Center, 1867 Room
Business Meeting: at conclusion of dinner
Talk: at conclusion of business meeting
Menu: Chicken Prima-Rosa, red skin potatoes, roasted asparagus, dessert & coffee. Vegetarian option: Mediterranean pasta
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students, Spouses & retirees)
Contact: cbovee@cedarcrest.edu by Monday, March 22, 2010. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail
Directions: on the web at http://www.cedarcrest.edu/ca/admissions/bycar.shtm
Speaker: Ms. Patty Valente
Flavor Chemist, Hagelin & Co. Flavor Technologies, Branchburg, NJ
Biography: Patty Valente obtained her BS at Cook College, Rutgers and her MS at Seton Hall University. She has 25 years experience in flavor creation. She was formerly with Givaudan and International Flavors and Fragrances, and is now a Senior flavorist with Hagelin & Co Flavor Technologies in Branchburg, NJ
Talk: Tasted any Good Chemicals Lately? The Chemistry of Flavor
Abstract: This talk will address the chemistry of flavors including:
- a brief history of flavor creation and the roles of chemistry.
- the art and science of flavor creation
- the cast of characters
- meeting the family
- conclusion/discussion and industry association
Past Meetings:
814th
Meeting of the LVACS
Monday February 22, 2010
Albright College
Monday February 22, 2010
Albright College
Times: 5:30-social hour, 6:30-dinner, 8:00-speaker
Place: Albright College, Campus Center South Lounge, Fireside (social hour and dinner) and Klein Lecture Hall (speaker).
Menu: Assorted Dinner Rolls w/ Butter Spring Mix Salad, Chicken Francaise OR Baked Orange Roughy with Tomato and Fennel, Whole Grain Rice Medley, Green Beans Almandine, Chocolate/Raspberry Mousse Parfait, vegetarian entrée by request
*Please specify a choice of entrée
Price: $25.00 (includes social hour), students and retirees 1/2 price
Directions: To campus: http://www.albright.edu/about/directions.html
Campus map: http://www.albright.edu/about/Printable-Map.pdf
Contact: Reservations by 4:00 P.M. Monday, February 15, 2010 through Nancy Kerper: (610) 921-7720; nkerper@alb.edu or Pam Artz: partz@alb.edu
(E-mail is preferred with LVACS as the subject). Please specify choice of entree
Speaker: Patricia Hill, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Biography: Dr. Patricia Hill, Professor of Chemistry, has been teaching at Millersville University since 1986. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and her PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Arizona where she worked on the synthesis and characterization of biologically active peptide hormones. In 1991 she developed a laboratory-based general education course for non-science entitled “The Molecular Basis of Color and Form: Chemistry in Art”. She has taught the course every year since then. In the fall of 1997 she worked in the Conservation Analytical Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution during a sabbatical leave. And during the academic year 2008-2009 she gained more experience with art conservation by working in the conservation laboratory of the Arizona State Museum in Tucson, Arizona. She has also developed and taught a topics course in forensic chemistry at Millersville University.
Title: Fraud, Fakes, Forgeries — Forensic Authentication of Works of Art
Abstract: On May 15, 2007 at Sotheby's in New York, a 1950 painting by Mark Rothko sold for $72.8 million, the highest price ever paid for a work at a contemporary art auction. The very next night at Christie's, a 1963 silkscreen on canvas by Andy Warhol went for $71.7 million. This makes art forgery a potentially lucrative venture. This talk will examine several cases of modern forgeries to discover how “forensic analysis” mimics good practices in art conservation with the goal of uncovering fakes and forgeries.
813th Meeting of the LVACS
Thursday January 28, 2010
Penn State University
Lehigh Valley Campus
Reception: 5:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Business Meeting &Talk: At the conclusion of dinner
Menu: Salad, rolls and butter, corn and glazed carrots, and country chicken, with a dessert of chocolate mousse. Vegetarian option available upon request.
Cost:$25 per person, so lets set the regular cost at $25, with students and retirees at 1/2 price
Contact: Reservations should be made no later than Friday, January 22nd at 4:00 PM with Marie Handwerk by phone (610-285-5000) or email <mam48@psu.edu>
Directions: available on the web http://www.lv.psu.edu/Information/directions.htm?cn716
Please note that Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus has moved to a new location!
Speaker: Michael De Rosa, Professor of Chemistry, Penn State Brandywine. Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Michael De Rosa has extensive experience in supervising undergraduate research; first at Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela) and now at Penn State Brandywine. At Penn State Brandywine he has supervised the research of 39 undergraduates. Their results have appeared in a number of publications with undergraduate co-authors, presentations at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and at other disciplinary conferences. This work has been supported by five grants from the National Science Foundation, with additional support from Penn State and industry. For his work with undergraduates he has received the Distinguished Service Award of the Eberly College of Science Alumni Society (2005) and Commonwealth College Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award (2002-03). He was a Fulbright Scholar at Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia (2005-06) and also at the University of Ghana, Legon (1997-98).
Talk: 2-AMINOPYRROLES: SYNTHESIS, REACTIONS AND TAUTOMERISM
Abstract: Reaction of 1-substituted pyrroles with N-chlorophthalimide gave N-(1-substituent-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)phthalimides.. Cleavage of these derivatives gave the corresponding 2-aminopyrrole without substitution on the ring. The unstable 2-aminopyrrole derivatives can be isolated as tetraphenylborate salts. Reaction of the salt with triethylamine can be used to generate the 2-aminopyrrole in situ. Similarly N-chloro-2-nitrobenzenesulfonamides reacted with 1-methylpyrrole to form derivatives in which the sulfonamide group was incorporated at C-2 of the pyrrole ring. The sulfonamide group was removed using a solid-phase thiophenolate reagent. Simple 2-(alkylamino)-pyrroles (alkyl = methyl, i-propyl, n-butyl and t-butyl) were thus obtained in DMF.
Diels-Alder reactions of 2-aminopyrroles with DMAD were attempted. Michael addition products were observed instead of cycloadducts. The inverse electron Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2-aminopyrroles with six symmetrical 1,3,5-triazines (CO2Et, CF3, Cl, OCH3, Ph and H) was studied. Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines were formed only when the triazine substituents were either the CO2Et or CF3 group. A multi-nuclear NMR study (1H, 13C, 19F and 15N) of the reaction of 2-amino-1-t-butylpyrrole with 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine in THFd8 indicated the presence of five intermediates. A zwitterion was the first intermediate detected and it cyclized to a tricyclic adduct and its conjugate acid. It also gave a neutral imine via a proton switch. The tricyclic adduct underwent a retro Diels-Alder reaction but the expected CF3CN was not detected. NMR indicated that the amino group of the 2-aminopyrrole was bonded to the CF3CN to form a trifluoroacetoamidinium ion. The products of the retro Diels-Alder reaction reacted rapidly with each other to give the final intermediate observed. Acid catalyzed loss of an amidine gave the final aromatic product. This is the first study in which direct experimental evidence for the order of steps, of the IEDDA cascade reaction of 1,3,5-triazines with amino containing dienophiles, has been obtained. This study, and analogous 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions in which zwitterions have been detected or proposed, have two factors in common: electronic effects that stabilize the zwitterions and steric effects that inhibit their cyclization.
Substitution by addition-elimination was observed when 1-alkyl-2-aminopyrroles reacted with 2,4,5,6-tetrachloropyrimidine. When a good leaving group was present in the heteroaromatic azadiene, reaction with 2-aminopyrroles occurred by addition-elimination instead of cycloaddition.
All previous experimental and theoretical studies of amino/imino tautomerism in 2-aminopyrroles have been carried out with compounds with primary amino groups. Amino/imino tautomerism was observed in secondary 2-aminopyrroles when an electron-withdrawing group (a trichloropyrimidine substituent) was on the exo amino group. No imino tautomer was detected by 1H NMR when the heteroaryl substituent was on C-3, C-5 or the exo amino substituent was an alkyl group. This would seem to suggest that conjugation of the exo nitrogen with the trichloropyrimidine ring was necessary to observe tautomerism. The amino tautomer was favored in solvents that were hydrogen bond acceptors.
812th Meeting of the LVACS
November 12, 2009
Lehigh University
Reception and Tours: 5:30 Ben Franklin TechVentures http://tinyurl.com/lvacslehighu1109
Dinner: 6:15 pm Stabler Observation Tower, Iacocca Hall http://tinyurl.com/LVACSDINNER
Meeting and Talk: At the conclusion of the meal
Note: A reception and building tour of the new Ben Franklin incubator laboratory and an opportunity to meet the chemists in the new start-up companies will precede the dinner. Learn about the future of corporate chemistry in the Lehigh Valley.
Menu: California Cuisine buffet
Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup
California Spinach, Candied Walnuts, Oranges and Goat Cheese with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Shrimp and Scallop Sourdough Strata with Fresh Herbs and Roasted Garlic
Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken with Artichoke, Prosciutto and Basil Sauce
White and Wild Rice Pilaf with Leeks, Corn and Peppers
Mixed Roasted Vegetables Romesco
Assorted Rolls with Butter
Fresh Mixed FruitTart
Cost: $20 Members; $10 Students and Retirees, Cash or check payable to “Chemistry – Lehigh University”
Contact: JoAnn DeSalvatore, 610-758-3471, chemgrad@Lehigh.EDU by November 6th @4 pm to reserve your spot!
Speaker: R. Chadwick Paul, Jr.
R. Chadwick (“Chad”) Paul, Jr., is the President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, an organization that invests in early-stage technology firms and established manufacturers and has received international recognition as a model economic development program. Chad has 33 years of entrepreneurial business experience and has started, secured investments for, or facilitated the merger of nearly two dozen companies. Chad founded Chadwick Telephone in 1976 while still in graduate school, and served as its President and CEO, building the company from a start-up to a significant multi-state corporation through 1997, when the company was merged with a public company. Presently, Chad serves as a Director and Member of the Technology Risk Committee of National Penn Bancshares and as Chairman of the Achievement Foundation, a national organization that awards college scholarships to students who have participated in U.S. Junior Achievement Programs. He earned his BS in Economics and MBA from Lehigh University.
Topic: New Chemistry in the Lehigh Valley
Fifty years ago, chemists in the greater Lehigh Valley found employment in the thriving R&D labs of GAF, Easton; Bethlehem Steel, Bethlehem; Althouse Color & Dye, Reading; Atlas Powder, Tamaqua; New Jersey Zinc, Palmerton and Friedensville; and Air Products, Trexlertown. These Fortune 500 firms, with their extensive research laboratories, are either gone or substantially restructured to a smaller, more focused mission. However, in the 21st century the Lehigh Valley hums with the vigor of dozens of small start-up firms in the chemical and material sciences. Some of these start-ups, such as OraSure Technologies and Digestive Care, have already grown to be significant employers of scientists while others, including Lehigh Nanotech, Saladax Biomedical, and Surface Chemistry Discoveries have aspirations in that direction. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has nurtured more than 44 successful start-ups in its incubator/post-incubator facility on Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus, and has provided investments and business and technical support to many others. This presentation provides a snapshot of new technology-driven companies in the Lehigh Valley and the role that Ben Franklin has played and plans to play in revitalizing molecular sciences and technologies in our region.
811th Meeting of the LVACS
Friday, October 9, 2009
Muhlenberg College
Reception: 5:30 - 6:00, Seegers Union Room 113 (The Great Room)
Dinner: 6:00, Seegers Union Room 113
Business Meeting: During dessert
Talk: 7:15, Trumbower Room 130
Menu: choice of: chicken picata, roasted salmon in a balsamic glaze, or vegetarian ravioli. Includes salad, vegetable, couscous, dessert, coffee.
Cost: $20 for members, $10 for students and retirees
Contact: Send reservation information to banderso@muhlenberg.edu or call 484-664-3260 and leave a message with your name, affiliation, and meal selection.
Directions:on the web at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/muhlinfo/directions.html
Speaker: Dr. Kian Tan
Kian Tan joined the faculty at Boston College in 2006 as an assistant professor. Kian received his B.S. degree from the University of Virginia. While at UVA he worked in the labs of Professor Dean Harman in which he explored the chemistry of Os(II) complexes. Upon graduating Kian attended the University of California-Berkeley, where he received his Ph.D. At Berkeley, he pursued a collaborative project with Professors Jonathan Ellman and Robert Bergman. Over the course of his Ph.D. he developed and studied the mechanism of a novel coupling reaction between heterocyclic C-H bonds and olefins. Upon completion of his degree, Kian joined the Jacobsen group at Harvard University as an NIH post-doctoral fellow. During his time in the Jacobsen group Kian designed and synthesized an urea-based catalyst that promotes the asymmetric allylation of hydrazones.
Talk: Catalytic Scaffolding Ligands: an Efficient Directing Group Strategy
Abstract: There is a fundamental need to develop chemical transformations that are highly selective and atom-economical. Directing groups have played a pivotal role in controlling regio- and stereochemistry in a range of organic transformations. However, often directing-group strategies require the introduction of stoichiometric quantities of synthetically undesirable functional groups (such as phosphines) into the organic substrates. We are developing a new class of ligands that address this limitation. We have synthesized ligands that simultaneously and reversibly bind to a metal catalyst and common organic functional groups (such as alcohols and amines). By using a ligand as a scaffold to temporarily join the catalyst and substrate together, the power of directing groups to controlselectivity is coupled to the practicality of catalysis. The value of the scaffolding strategy is that we can apply a synthetically useful functional group to bind to the ligand, and then tailor the ligand for optimal performance in the desired transformation.
810th
Meeting of the LVACS
Lafayette College
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Event Location: Faculty Dining Hall, Lafayette College
Reception: 5:30, cheese and fruit
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Meeting: Business Meeting at the Conclusion of Dinner (approx. 7:30)
Talk: Hugel Science Center, Jaqua Auditorium (Rm 103)
Menu: Chicken Cordon Blue or braised short ribs, Roast Garlic Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, Coffee/Tea/Soda, Chocolate Layer Cake; Vegetarian Option-Portabello Stacks.
Cost: $20, students and retirees $10
Contact: Debbie Bastinelli at 610-330-5213 or bastined@lafayette.edu by September 18
Directions: http://www.lafayette.edu/ community/directions.html
Talk: “Strategies for the Discovery of Innovative Drug Candidates”
Speaker: Magid Abou-Gharbia
Magid Abou-Gharbia joined the School of Pharmacy at Temple University in September 2008 as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and director for the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research (MCDDR). He oversees the research activities in the area of design and synthesis of small molecule therapeutics in multiple disease areas as lead drug candidates, and as chemical probes to test biological hypotheses and in support of translational research. Prior to joining Temple University, he spent 26 years working in the area of drug discovery and development. As Senior Vice President & Head of Chemical & Screening Sciences at Wyeth, he was responsible for overseeing and directing Wyeth chemistry and screening research efforts of 500 scientists at four US research facilities and 150 chemists in Hyderabad, India in support of drug discovery in Neuroscience, Inflammation, Women’s Health/Bone, Oncology and Cardio-vascular/Metabolic Diseases therapeutic areas. Over the years Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s group research efforts led to the discovery of five marketed drugs and many compounds currently under clinical evaluation including Effexor®, Mylotarg®, Torisel™, Pristiq® (DVS-233), Tygacil®, and Bazedoxifene®.
Professor Abou-Gharbia received his BS in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (1971), MS in Medicinal Chemistry (1974) from the School of Pharmacy, Cairo University, and Ph.D. (1979) frosm the University of Pennsylvania working with Professor Madeleine Joullie, followed by a two-year NIH Postdoctoral fellowship at Temple University Medical School and the Department of Chemistry. His scientific contributions include over 180 invited lectures, presentation and publications; inventor on 99 US patents and over 350 patents worldwide. He has won numerous awards such as the Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry (2008) and American Institute of Chemists (AIC) Chemistry Pioneer Award (2007), and has been inducted into the ACS Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame (2008).
Lafayette College
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Event Location: Faculty Dining Hall, Lafayette College
Reception: 5:30, cheese and fruit
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Meeting: Business Meeting at the Conclusion of Dinner (approx. 7:30)
Talk: Hugel Science Center, Jaqua Auditorium (Rm 103)
Menu: Chicken Cordon Blue or braised short ribs, Roast Garlic Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, Coffee/Tea/Soda, Chocolate Layer Cake; Vegetarian Option-Portabello Stacks.
Cost: $20, students and retirees $10
Contact: Debbie Bastinelli at 610-330-5213 or bastined@lafayette.edu by September 18
Directions: http://www.lafayette.edu/ community/directions.html
Talk: “Strategies for the Discovery of Innovative Drug Candidates”
Speaker: Magid Abou-Gharbia
Magid Abou-Gharbia joined the School of Pharmacy at Temple University in September 2008 as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and director for the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research (MCDDR). He oversees the research activities in the area of design and synthesis of small molecule therapeutics in multiple disease areas as lead drug candidates, and as chemical probes to test biological hypotheses and in support of translational research. Prior to joining Temple University, he spent 26 years working in the area of drug discovery and development. As Senior Vice President & Head of Chemical & Screening Sciences at Wyeth, he was responsible for overseeing and directing Wyeth chemistry and screening research efforts of 500 scientists at four US research facilities and 150 chemists in Hyderabad, India in support of drug discovery in Neuroscience, Inflammation, Women’s Health/Bone, Oncology and Cardio-vascular/Metabolic Diseases therapeutic areas. Over the years Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s group research efforts led to the discovery of five marketed drugs and many compounds currently under clinical evaluation including Effexor®, Mylotarg®, Torisel™, Pristiq® (DVS-233), Tygacil®, and Bazedoxifene®.
Professor Abou-Gharbia received his BS in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (1971), MS in Medicinal Chemistry (1974) from the School of Pharmacy, Cairo University, and Ph.D. (1979) frosm the University of Pennsylvania working with Professor Madeleine Joullie, followed by a two-year NIH Postdoctoral fellowship at Temple University Medical School and the Department of Chemistry. His scientific contributions include over 180 invited lectures, presentation and publications; inventor on 99 US patents and over 350 patents worldwide. He has won numerous awards such as the Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry (2008) and American Institute of Chemists (AIC) Chemistry Pioneer Award (2007), and has been inducted into the ACS Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame (2008).
 |
809th Meeting of the LVACS
Sorrenti's Cherry
Valley VineyardsSpouse's Night and Year End Celebration Wine Tasting and Tour of Winery Facilities |
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Reception: 5:30 - 7:00 PM - Cheese Plate Appetizer, Wine tasting
Dinner: 7:00 PM
Meeting: Business Meeting at the Conclusion of Dinner
Menu: Choice of Chicken Primavera with Seasonal Vegetables or Eggplant Rollatini, Bread, Rolls, Butter & Salad, Dessert TBD
Cost: members $20, spouses, students & retirees $10
Contact: Chester Crane by 4PM, Tuesday May 12.
Please provide choice of entree and affiliation.
ccrane9@yahoo.com or 610-498-2015 - email contact preferred.
Directions: So, how do you get here? From 22 or 78, take Route 33 north to the Saylorsburg Exit (you'll see us from the highway.) Make a right on Upper Cherry Valley Road. Take a Left on Old Route 115 and then another left on Lower Cherry Valley Road.
From Route 80, take 33 South to the Saylorsburg exit. Take a Left on Old Route 115 and then another left on Lower Cherry Valley Road.
About Cherry Valley:
Dominic
Sorrenti was raised in Milwaukee and participated in his family's
winemaking from his childhood and he always dreamed of having his own
winery and vineyard. This dream came true over a dozen years ago and
today, Sorrenti's Cherry Valley Vineyard produces a wide variety of
award-winning wines.
How did an Italian American from Milwaukee wind up making awardwinning wines in Pennsylvania? With a lot of hard work, love, passion and commitment. To get the full story you need to come into the winery. Let us show you around, give you the tour, let you sample some fine wine. Then the story of how we got started will make more sense.
http://www.cherryvalleyvineyards.com/
How did an Italian American from Milwaukee wind up making awardwinning wines in Pennsylvania? With a lot of hard work, love, passion and commitment. To get the full story you need to come into the winery. Let us show you around, give you the tour, let you sample some fine wine. Then the story of how we got started will make more sense.
http://www.cherryvalleyvineyards.com/
808th Meeting of the LVACS
Student Awards Night and Undergraduate Poster Session
Students are encouraged to attend
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Location: Moravian College – North Campus
Reception and Undergraduate Student Research Poster Session: 5:00 – 6:15 pm, Lobby Collier Hall of Science
Dinner: 6:15 pm – UBC Room, Haupert Union Building
Meeting, Talk, and Student Awards Presentation : 7:30 pm Dana Lecture Hall, Collier Hall of Science
Menu: Buffet featuring Baked Chicken Breast with Pineapple/Orange Sauce and Pasta Primavera (for Vegetarians)
Cost: members $20, students & retirees $10
Contact: Reservations: LouAnn Vlahovic by Noon, Thursday, April 23rd. Please include your name, affiliation, and for students whether they are an awardee, poster presenter or both. Registration can be made by phone (610-861-1425) or by email melnv01@moravian.edu (the last two digits are numbers). Please put LVACS Registration in the subject line. (Note: email registrations will be confirmed by a return email.)
Directions: Directions to Moravian can be found on the web at http://www.moravian.edu/admission/directions.htm. Suggested parking is in Lots M, N, & O, along Locust Street. A campus map is available at http://www.moravian.edu/campusMaps/north.htm.
Speaker: Valerie Kuck
"Writing a Winning Resume for a Tight Job Market"
Abstract:
The current economy requires job seekers to know the skills and knowledge that employers currently are seeking. A concise resume clearly showing a good match with the job requirements is essential to getting an interview. This talk will address ways to assist both experienced chemists and students in preparing effective resumes. In addition, pointers will be given on preparing for an interview.
Brief Biography:
Valerie Kuck received a BA in Chemistry from Saint-Mary of the Woods College in Indiana and a MS from Purdue University. In 2001 she retired from Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ, where she had worked for 34 years. Her research was in both fundamental and applied areas and has been granted 21 U.S. patents dealing mostly with coatings and waveguide devices. Currently, she is an adjunct professor in the Chemistry Department at the College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ. In 1997, Ms. Kuck became a Career Consultant for the ACS and has assisted hundreds of members in preparing their resumes. In 1999 she established the North Jersey Section’s Careers in Transition Group. She chairs the Group’s monthly meetings which address topics such as resumes, job searching and interviews.
807th Meeting of the LVACS
High School Teachers Night
Friday March 27, 2009
Location: Muhlenberg College
Reception: 5:00 PM light refreshments
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Menu: Choice of Marinated flank steak with potatoes, Chablis dijon breast of chicken with baked stuffed potato or cheest tortellini broccoli and fennel with Alfredo sauce
Talk: 7:30 PM
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: LuAnn in the Chemistry office at 484-664-3260 or luann.feist@gw.muhlenberg.edu. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail and meal choice.
Directions: Visit the Muhlenberg website at www.muhlenberg.esu
Speaker: Joan Harvey
Topic: Flavor Scientist Joan Harvey combines flavors to create new and different candies and gums. She asks questions like, “Why does a flavor used in soda not taste the same in chewing gum?” Or, “Why do people taste things differently so that some people like bananas and others don’t?” Join the Flavor Tasters and learn about making new candies and gums. At kidsciencechallenge.com you can find fun flavor making and tasting projects, then compare your new flavors with other Flavor Tasters!
Samples will be provided!
806th Meeting of the LVACS
Thursday
February 26, 2009
Location: Cedarcrest College - Harmon Hall of Peace and Lachaise Gallery
Reception: 6:00 PM beverage, cheese, and crackers
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Menu: Chicken Piccata, green beans w/red peppers, roasted redskin potatoes, dessert and coffee. Vegetarian choice is Mediterranean pasta
Talk:
Menu: At the conclusion of dinner
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: Lesley@cedarcrest.edu by Friday February 20, 2009. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail
Directions: Visit the Cedar Crest website at www.cedarcrest.edu
Speaker: Brian Gestring - Assistant Professor – Chemistry & Physical Sciences/ Forensic Science Program
Brian Gestring is currently an Assistant Professor with the Forensic Science Program at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Prior to becoming an academic, Professor Gestring has worked as a: Death Investigator, DNA Analyst, supervisor in a Crime Scene Reconstruction unit, supervisor in the World Trade Center Identification Unit, and a television consultant for Law & Order and Cosby Mysteries. Throughout his professional career he has also worked as a Forensic Science Consultant on active casework in the areas of Trace Evidence, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Forensic Photography and Crime Laboratory Management. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), President of the Council on Forensic Science Education (COFSE), and a member of the International Association of Identification (IAI) national and New York chapters. He also still holds certification from the IAI as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst.
Professor Gestring has taught at three Forensic Science Programs in the North East. At Pace University, he created and developed the Undergraduate and Graduate Forensic Science Programs which he directed for their first five years. He is currently the most senior site evaluator for the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and has served the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) as a member of the Examination Committee for the Forensic Science Aptitude Test (FSAT).
Talk: The Past, Present and Future of Forensic Intelligence
Upon their first meeting, the slender man with the intense stare and the eagle like face pronounced “you came from Liberton. You drive two horses, one gray, and one bay, and you are probably employed by a brewery.” After all the assumptions were confirmed and the man from Liberton left, the slender man explained himself. “I saw the clay from Liberton on the fellow’s boots. He had gray hairs on one sleeve and bay hairs on the other. As for my final bit of deduction, you probably observed the face, especially the nose.”
While this exchange has all the hallmarks of the most famous fictional detective, it was neither Sherlock Holmes nor fictional. It was only one of many accounts of the keen observational and interpretative skill of a Scottish physician named Dr. Joseph Bell. This account was originally recorded by Hesketh Pearson. Dr. Bell used what he termed as “the method” every day as he treated patients and taught medical students like the young Arthur Conan Doyle.
Dr. Bell’s keen insights did more than just help his patients and provide the inspiration for Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes. Since the 1870’s, Dr. Bell used his talents to aid the crown with criminal investigations. He continued on this path for nearly 20 years. For a time he was even involved with the Jack the Ripper investigation. The discretion Dr. Bell exercised regarding his involvement in these cases has resulted in a lack of appreciation for the central role he played in fostering the scientific investigation of crime.
As more of the historic literature in Forensic Science is explored, it becomes apparent that forensic science was not only used at trial, but as an active part of the investigation to develop suspects. Similar feats of observational prowess and interpretive intellect are present in works from Hans Gross and Edmund Locard, to Paul Kirk. Yet somehow over time the laboratory became removed from the investigation assuming a more reactive role. Scientist eventually became detached from the crime scene altogether. Slowly, the concept of a general knowledge of forensic science or a “generalist” started to give way to the concept of a laboratory specialist.
Somewhat ironically, forensic DNA testing which is one of the main disciples responsible for this shift is simultaneously reasserting the role of physical evidence in investigations. The power of DNA is more than its individualizing power. It is also the ability to create searchable databases of the recovered DNA profiles. The next great advance in forensic science will occur when the rest of the evidence found at the crime scene can be characterized and searched as DNA currently is.
Over the past 8 years significant progress has been made to address this. A unique partnership developed between NASA’s Goddard Space Center, Forensic Scientists, Law Enforcement, Academicians, and Prosecuting Attorneys to adapt space exploration technology developed by Goddard to problems encountered at the crime scene. As a result of this partnership, a small portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit has been developed. XRF has already been used in laboratory settings to characterize various forms of trace evidence. The technology now exists to take it right to the scene or even the battlefield allowing real-time elemental data of numerous forms of evidence. Just as with DNA, the power of elemental analysis is related to the ability to interpret the results with known databases. Many industrial materials already have extensive elemental databases. The steel industry is a good example. Elemental data from fragments of exploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) can be used to show common origin and possibly even trace the origin based upon information from the industrial databases.
Although initially a strange concept, adapting the science of space exploration to both the crime scene and even the battlefield makes sense. These systems are initially designed to be robust, operate remotely off of telemetry, and produce rapid results. They are also designed to be compact and can even share common components. It is not inconceivable to have a field portable unit that combines an XRF, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman and other optical spectroscopies into one system. The system would conduct all the analyses from a single sample and provide results in minutes. In some cases like the analysis of soil, it might also be possible to combine these data with orbital data from satellites as well. Numerous other combinations of instrumentation such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy can also be designed to fully harvest the information potential of other evidence encountered.
These field portable technologies can also be applied to biological samples. Preliminary results from real-time PCR research indicates that it might be possible to differentiate alternate forms of DNA (alleles) present at a given location on the DNA molecule (loci) through what are known as melt-curves. While this wouldn’t give the same depth of information as a full DNA profile, it could conceivably become an incredible new tool for screening biological samples found at a crime scene to determine common origin. An instrument could automate the DNA extraction procedure and send the sample directly to real-time PCR in an integrated fashion. This would significantly aid investigators in finding different DNA profiles in complex scenes with multiple DNA donors.
Another advantage of using space technologies is robotic systems. Since most space missions are not manned, many of these technologies are designed to be operated off of robotic platforms. These robotic systems have already been designed, and are mission-tested technology that operates off of solar powered systems, batteries or radio-thermal generators. They are also in constant redevelopment for future missions. From an investigative point of view, this would allow a safe exploration of situations where weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are suspected. Since instruments used by robotics systems also do not require the same level of shielding as those used by humans, more instruments that are a routine part of space exploration can be employed. Neutron/gamma ray systems can easily be used for the investigation of bulk samples or even concealed samples.
Data from the scene can now provide actionable intelligence for investigators at crime scenes and troops in the battlefield. Much like a Jules Verne novel, these well interfaced field portable instruments provide a window into the future of forensic intelligence.
Location: Cedarcrest College - Harmon Hall of Peace and Lachaise Gallery
Reception: 6:00 PM beverage, cheese, and crackers
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Menu: Chicken Piccata, green beans w/red peppers, roasted redskin potatoes, dessert and coffee. Vegetarian choice is Mediterranean pasta
Talk:
Menu: At the conclusion of dinner
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: Lesley@cedarcrest.edu by Friday February 20, 2009. Please give full name, affiliation and phone number/e-mail
Directions: Visit the Cedar Crest website at www.cedarcrest.edu
Speaker: Brian Gestring - Assistant Professor – Chemistry & Physical Sciences/ Forensic Science Program
Brian Gestring is currently an Assistant Professor with the Forensic Science Program at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Prior to becoming an academic, Professor Gestring has worked as a: Death Investigator, DNA Analyst, supervisor in a Crime Scene Reconstruction unit, supervisor in the World Trade Center Identification Unit, and a television consultant for Law & Order and Cosby Mysteries. Throughout his professional career he has also worked as a Forensic Science Consultant on active casework in the areas of Trace Evidence, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Forensic Photography and Crime Laboratory Management. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), President of the Council on Forensic Science Education (COFSE), and a member of the International Association of Identification (IAI) national and New York chapters. He also still holds certification from the IAI as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst.
Professor Gestring has taught at three Forensic Science Programs in the North East. At Pace University, he created and developed the Undergraduate and Graduate Forensic Science Programs which he directed for their first five years. He is currently the most senior site evaluator for the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and has served the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) as a member of the Examination Committee for the Forensic Science Aptitude Test (FSAT).
Talk: The Past, Present and Future of Forensic Intelligence
Upon their first meeting, the slender man with the intense stare and the eagle like face pronounced “you came from Liberton. You drive two horses, one gray, and one bay, and you are probably employed by a brewery.” After all the assumptions were confirmed and the man from Liberton left, the slender man explained himself. “I saw the clay from Liberton on the fellow’s boots. He had gray hairs on one sleeve and bay hairs on the other. As for my final bit of deduction, you probably observed the face, especially the nose.”
While this exchange has all the hallmarks of the most famous fictional detective, it was neither Sherlock Holmes nor fictional. It was only one of many accounts of the keen observational and interpretative skill of a Scottish physician named Dr. Joseph Bell. This account was originally recorded by Hesketh Pearson. Dr. Bell used what he termed as “the method” every day as he treated patients and taught medical students like the young Arthur Conan Doyle.
Dr. Bell’s keen insights did more than just help his patients and provide the inspiration for Conan Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes. Since the 1870’s, Dr. Bell used his talents to aid the crown with criminal investigations. He continued on this path for nearly 20 years. For a time he was even involved with the Jack the Ripper investigation. The discretion Dr. Bell exercised regarding his involvement in these cases has resulted in a lack of appreciation for the central role he played in fostering the scientific investigation of crime.
As more of the historic literature in Forensic Science is explored, it becomes apparent that forensic science was not only used at trial, but as an active part of the investigation to develop suspects. Similar feats of observational prowess and interpretive intellect are present in works from Hans Gross and Edmund Locard, to Paul Kirk. Yet somehow over time the laboratory became removed from the investigation assuming a more reactive role. Scientist eventually became detached from the crime scene altogether. Slowly, the concept of a general knowledge of forensic science or a “generalist” started to give way to the concept of a laboratory specialist.
Somewhat ironically, forensic DNA testing which is one of the main disciples responsible for this shift is simultaneously reasserting the role of physical evidence in investigations. The power of DNA is more than its individualizing power. It is also the ability to create searchable databases of the recovered DNA profiles. The next great advance in forensic science will occur when the rest of the evidence found at the crime scene can be characterized and searched as DNA currently is.
Over the past 8 years significant progress has been made to address this. A unique partnership developed between NASA’s Goddard Space Center, Forensic Scientists, Law Enforcement, Academicians, and Prosecuting Attorneys to adapt space exploration technology developed by Goddard to problems encountered at the crime scene. As a result of this partnership, a small portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit has been developed. XRF has already been used in laboratory settings to characterize various forms of trace evidence. The technology now exists to take it right to the scene or even the battlefield allowing real-time elemental data of numerous forms of evidence. Just as with DNA, the power of elemental analysis is related to the ability to interpret the results with known databases. Many industrial materials already have extensive elemental databases. The steel industry is a good example. Elemental data from fragments of exploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) can be used to show common origin and possibly even trace the origin based upon information from the industrial databases.
Although initially a strange concept, adapting the science of space exploration to both the crime scene and even the battlefield makes sense. These systems are initially designed to be robust, operate remotely off of telemetry, and produce rapid results. They are also designed to be compact and can even share common components. It is not inconceivable to have a field portable unit that combines an XRF, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman and other optical spectroscopies into one system. The system would conduct all the analyses from a single sample and provide results in minutes. In some cases like the analysis of soil, it might also be possible to combine these data with orbital data from satellites as well. Numerous other combinations of instrumentation such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy can also be designed to fully harvest the information potential of other evidence encountered.
These field portable technologies can also be applied to biological samples. Preliminary results from real-time PCR research indicates that it might be possible to differentiate alternate forms of DNA (alleles) present at a given location on the DNA molecule (loci) through what are known as melt-curves. While this wouldn’t give the same depth of information as a full DNA profile, it could conceivably become an incredible new tool for screening biological samples found at a crime scene to determine common origin. An instrument could automate the DNA extraction procedure and send the sample directly to real-time PCR in an integrated fashion. This would significantly aid investigators in finding different DNA profiles in complex scenes with multiple DNA donors.
Another advantage of using space technologies is robotic systems. Since most space missions are not manned, many of these technologies are designed to be operated off of robotic platforms. These robotic systems have already been designed, and are mission-tested technology that operates off of solar powered systems, batteries or radio-thermal generators. They are also in constant redevelopment for future missions. From an investigative point of view, this would allow a safe exploration of situations where weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are suspected. Since instruments used by robotics systems also do not require the same level of shielding as those used by humans, more instruments that are a routine part of space exploration can be employed. Neutron/gamma ray systems can easily be used for the investigation of bulk samples or even concealed samples.
Data from the scene can now provide actionable intelligence for investigators at crime scenes and troops in the battlefield. Much like a Jules Verne novel, these well interfaced field portable instruments provide a window into the future of forensic intelligence.
805th Meeting of the LVACS
Thursday
January 22, 2009
Location: Penn State, Lehigh Valley Campus, Fogelsville, PA. Campus location TBA.
Reception: 6:00 PM punch, cheese, and crackers
Dinner: 6:30 PM House Salad, Beef Stroganoff and Rice, Corn and Glazed Carrots, Chocolate Cake dessert Hot Coffee and Tea, and water, vegetarian option available.
Meeting: At the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the business meeting
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: Receptions desk (610-285-5000) or Marie Handwerk <mam48@psu.edu>.
Directions: see http://www.lv.psu.edu/ Information/directions.htm
Speaker: Dr. James Hansel, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. [retired]
Jim Hansel is a retired engineer and educator with 47 years of experience within industrial R&D as well as university research and university teaching. He received his doctor of science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. He recently retired from 25 years at Air Products and Chemicals. Among many accomplishments at Air Products he pioneered the transfer of industrial hydrogen safety to the emerging automotive hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Prior to Air Products he spent eight years at Engelhard Industries where he was a key member of the team that developed the automotive exhaust three way catalytic converter and the associated engine control system that has been utilized on 800 million automobiles to date. His university teaching includes three years as adjunct associate professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University as well as eight years as adjunct professor of mechanical and chemical engineering at Penn State main campus. Dr. Hansel is the author or coauthor of 45 publications and he holds 8 patents. He has received world recognition and numerous awards during his career.
Talk: “Future Fuels and Future Cars”
This presentation brings into focus the numerous technical and non- technical factors that need to be considered regarding this subject. These factors are having a profound effect on the selection of vehicle power sources and fuels, as well as the vehicle designs. The discussion launches from the shortcomings of current systems and leads to short term and long term alternatives – including the trade-offs. Also presented are a number of upcoming significant improvements in safe vehicle operation due to the full integration of on-board radar, global positioning and electronics.
Location: Penn State, Lehigh Valley Campus, Fogelsville, PA. Campus location TBA.
Reception: 6:00 PM punch, cheese, and crackers
Dinner: 6:30 PM House Salad, Beef Stroganoff and Rice, Corn and Glazed Carrots, Chocolate Cake dessert Hot Coffee and Tea, and water, vegetarian option available.
Meeting: At the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the business meeting
Cost: $20.00 ($10.00 for students and retirees)
Reservations: Receptions desk (610-285-5000) or Marie Handwerk <mam48@psu.edu>.
Directions: see http://www.lv.psu.edu/ Information/directions.htm
Speaker: Dr. James Hansel, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. [retired]
Jim Hansel is a retired engineer and educator with 47 years of experience within industrial R&D as well as university research and university teaching. He received his doctor of science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. He recently retired from 25 years at Air Products and Chemicals. Among many accomplishments at Air Products he pioneered the transfer of industrial hydrogen safety to the emerging automotive hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Prior to Air Products he spent eight years at Engelhard Industries where he was a key member of the team that developed the automotive exhaust three way catalytic converter and the associated engine control system that has been utilized on 800 million automobiles to date. His university teaching includes three years as adjunct associate professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University as well as eight years as adjunct professor of mechanical and chemical engineering at Penn State main campus. Dr. Hansel is the author or coauthor of 45 publications and he holds 8 patents. He has received world recognition and numerous awards during his career.
Talk: “Future Fuels and Future Cars”
This presentation brings into focus the numerous technical and non- technical factors that need to be considered regarding this subject. These factors are having a profound effect on the selection of vehicle power sources and fuels, as well as the vehicle designs. The discussion launches from the shortcomings of current systems and leads to short term and long term alternatives – including the trade-offs. Also presented are a number of upcoming significant improvements in safe vehicle operation due to the full integration of on-board radar, global positioning and electronics.
804th Meeting of the LVACS
Lehigh University
Date: November 12, 2008
Location: Lehigh University, Asa Packer Dining Room
Reception: 6:00 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Meeting:7:30 PM
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting
Menu: *NYC Restaurant Special*
Waldorf Salad with Frisee Lettuce, Chicken in a Wild Mushroom Parmesan Cream Sauce, Spinach Torta with Fresh Herbs and Mozzarella Cheese, Buttermilk and Chive Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Asparagus NY Style Cheesecake
Cost: $20 Members; $10 Students and Retirees
Contact: JoAnn DeSalvatore, 610-758-3471, jmd207@Lehigh.EDU
Directions: On the web at http://www3.lehigh.edu/about/maps/default.asp
Talk: Strengthening our Academic Foundations: Report from an NSF ADVANCE Project On the Status of Women Chemistry Faculty in Doctoral Granting Universities
Speaker: Sally Chapman, Professor of Chemistry, Barnard College
Concerned by the paucity of tenured women faculty members in doctoral granting universities, the ACS with the financial assistance of an NSF Grant undertook Project Progress. Dr. Chapman served as PI on the grant and supervised the study. Written surveys and oral interviews in focus groups and were conducted with 877 men and women, including administrators, faculty members, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students, during one-day site visits at chemistry and chemical engineering departments in 28 Ph.D.-granting institutions. A preliminary review of the perceptions of the climate for women scientists based on the data collected during these visits has been completed. Discrimination on both the individual and institutional level still persists, and changing this reality presents a serious challenge to advocates of gender equity. Some recommendations are offered by the team which performed the study.
Dr. Sally Chapman was educated at Smith College and received her PhD from Yale. After postdoctoral experiences at UC Irvine and UC Berkeley she joined the faculty of Barnard where she has served multiple terms as Department Chair and has been the holder of the Ann Whitney Olin professorship. Sally has also chaired the ACS Committee on Professional Training and the Petroleum Research Fund Advisory Board. She has more than 30 publications mostly on the thermodynamics and kinetics of gas phase reactions.
803rd Meeting of the LVACS
Kutztown University
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Reception: 5:30 PM, Formal Dining Room (SUB 223), various hors d'oeuvres
Dinner: 6:00 PM chicken marsala or California vegetarian pasta, salad, vegetable medley, rice, and brownie dessert.
Meeting: McFarland Student Union Building, at the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting,
Cost: $22.00 members and guests; students and retirees $10.00.
Contact: If attending, please email Ms. Donna Moore, Department of Physical Sciences -moore@kutztown.edu, with your name, institutional affiliation, and choice of entree (chicken or vegetarian). The deadline for reservations is Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Directions: Directions to campus and a campus map are available on the KU website (http://www.kutztown.edu/about/campusmap/ ). McFarland SUB is building 8 on the campus map. Free parking is available in lots A1 and A2 (no permit needed).
Speaker: David Reingold, Department of Chemistry, Juniata College
Professor David Reingold came to Juniata in 1988 with a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, an A.B. from Dartmouth College, additional research experience at the University of Alberta, Canada, and the University of Chicago, and more than ten years of college teaching experience. He was awarded Juniata's Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1992 and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service in 2001. Dr. Reingold's special interests include synthetic organic chemistry and molecules of theoretical interest. He has received grants totaling more than 1.3 million dollars from the National Science Foundation, the Petroleum Research Fund, the Research Corporation, and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to support his research in the synthesis of non-natural products. He is author of numerous articles in such publications as the Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron Letters, Synthetic Communications, and the Journal of Chemical Education. Many of these papers had undergraduate students as co-authors. He is also the author of two textbooks published by IA Books, entitled “Organic Chemistry: An Introduction Emphasizing Biological Connections,” and “Preparation for Organic Chemistry.” Dr. Reingold is an active member of the American Chemical Society and the Council of Undergraduate Research. He holds the H. George Foster Chair of Chemistry at Juniata College.
Talk: Juniata’s Organic First Curriculum: Why Isn’t Everyone Doing It?
Abstract: Like several other schools, we have begun to teach organic first at Juniata College. Unlike many of them, we have elected not to teach the standard sophomore organic course to the freshmen. Recognizing that the students do not have the background of sophomores, we begin the course with some introductory material that cannot be treated as review. Recognizing that most of the students taking chemistry at Juniata are biology-oriented, we have incorporated biological applications throughout the course, not just in a final few chapters. In order to make room for all this additional material, some material has been deleted. Information of use primarily to chemists is postponed until junior year, when the audience is mostly chemists. The result is a curriculum that starts with the biological aspects of organic chemistry, does inorganic and analytical chemistry in the sophomore year, and revisits organic in the junior year. The talk will describe the advantages and disadvantages of this curriculum and some data concerning the success of students who have been through it.
Kutztown University
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Reception: 5:30 PM, Formal Dining Room (SUB 223), various hors d'oeuvres
Dinner: 6:00 PM chicken marsala or California vegetarian pasta, salad, vegetable medley, rice, and brownie dessert.
Meeting: McFarland Student Union Building, at the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting,
Cost: $22.00 members and guests; students and retirees $10.00.
Contact: If attending, please email Ms. Donna Moore, Department of Physical Sciences -moore@kutztown.edu, with your name, institutional affiliation, and choice of entree (chicken or vegetarian). The deadline for reservations is Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
Directions: Directions to campus and a campus map are available on the KU website (http://www.kutztown.edu/about/campusmap/ ). McFarland SUB is building 8 on the campus map. Free parking is available in lots A1 and A2 (no permit needed).
Speaker: David Reingold, Department of Chemistry, Juniata College
Professor David Reingold came to Juniata in 1988 with a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, an A.B. from Dartmouth College, additional research experience at the University of Alberta, Canada, and the University of Chicago, and more than ten years of college teaching experience. He was awarded Juniata's Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1992 and the Beachley Award for Distinguished Academic Service in 2001. Dr. Reingold's special interests include synthetic organic chemistry and molecules of theoretical interest. He has received grants totaling more than 1.3 million dollars from the National Science Foundation, the Petroleum Research Fund, the Research Corporation, and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to support his research in the synthesis of non-natural products. He is author of numerous articles in such publications as the Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron Letters, Synthetic Communications, and the Journal of Chemical Education. Many of these papers had undergraduate students as co-authors. He is also the author of two textbooks published by IA Books, entitled “Organic Chemistry: An Introduction Emphasizing Biological Connections,” and “Preparation for Organic Chemistry.” Dr. Reingold is an active member of the American Chemical Society and the Council of Undergraduate Research. He holds the H. George Foster Chair of Chemistry at Juniata College.
Talk: Juniata’s Organic First Curriculum: Why Isn’t Everyone Doing It?
Abstract: Like several other schools, we have begun to teach organic first at Juniata College. Unlike many of them, we have elected not to teach the standard sophomore organic course to the freshmen. Recognizing that the students do not have the background of sophomores, we begin the course with some introductory material that cannot be treated as review. Recognizing that most of the students taking chemistry at Juniata are biology-oriented, we have incorporated biological applications throughout the course, not just in a final few chapters. In order to make room for all this additional material, some material has been deleted. Information of use primarily to chemists is postponed until junior year, when the audience is mostly chemists. The result is a curriculum that starts with the biological aspects of organic chemistry, does inorganic and analytical chemistry in the sophomore year, and revisits organic in the junior year. The talk will describe the advantages and disadvantages of this curriculum and some data concerning the success of students who have been through it.
803rd Meeting of the LVACS
Lafayette College
Date:
September 24, 2008
Location: Faculty Dining Hall, Lafayette College
Reception: 5:30, cheese and fruit
Dinner: 6:00
Meeting: At the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting, Hugel Science Center, Jaqua Auditorium (Rm 103)
Menu: Chicken Cordon Blue or Beef Brisket, Roast Garlic Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, Coffee/Tea/Soda, Chocolate Layer Cake; Vegetarian Option- Portabello Stacks.
Cost: members $20, students & retirees $10
Contact: Debbie Bastinelli at 610-330-5213 or bastined@lafayette.edu by September 19
Directions: On the web at http://www.lafayette.edu/community/directions.html
Speaker: Scott McN. Sieburth
Dr. Scott McN. Sieburth is a professor of chemistry at Temple University. Scott received his BS degree from Worcester Polytechnical Institute in 1977 and his PhD from Harvard University in 1983. He worked for FMC Corporation for seven years in their Agricultural Chemical group. Before he moved to his present position at Temple University, he was professor of chemistry at SUNY-Stony Brook. He has diverse interests in organic chemistry, especially the [4+4] photocycloaddition reaction, and the synthesis and biological activity of silanediols (http://astro.temple.edu/~sieburth/). Scott received the 2008 Philadelphia Organic Chemists' Club Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to organic chemistry and service to the scientific community.
Location: Faculty Dining Hall, Lafayette College
Reception: 5:30, cheese and fruit
Dinner: 6:00
Meeting: At the conclusion of dinner
Talk: At the conclusion of the meeting, Hugel Science Center, Jaqua Auditorium (Rm 103)
Menu: Chicken Cordon Blue or Beef Brisket, Roast Garlic Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans, Coffee/Tea/Soda, Chocolate Layer Cake; Vegetarian Option- Portabello Stacks.
Cost: members $20, students & retirees $10
Contact: Debbie Bastinelli at 610-330-5213 or bastined@lafayette.edu by September 19
Directions: On the web at http://www.lafayette.edu/community/directions.html
Speaker: Scott McN. Sieburth
Dr. Scott McN. Sieburth is a professor of chemistry at Temple University. Scott received his BS degree from Worcester Polytechnical Institute in 1977 and his PhD from Harvard University in 1983. He worked for FMC Corporation for seven years in their Agricultural Chemical group. Before he moved to his present position at Temple University, he was professor of chemistry at SUNY-Stony Brook. He has diverse interests in organic chemistry, especially the [4+4] photocycloaddition reaction, and the synthesis and biological activity of silanediols (http://astro.temple.edu/~sieburth/). Scott received the 2008 Philadelphia Organic Chemists' Club Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to organic chemistry and service to the scientific community.
Abstract
Using Silicon to Design New Pharmaceuticals
Silicon is the second most abundant element, and the element closest to carbon in its properties. Despite more than a century of organosilane research, only two silanes are produced commercially because of their biological activity, with silicon replacing a quaternary carbon. Unlike carbondiols (X=C) that dehydrate to ketones, silanediols (X=Si) do not dehydrate to give silanones. We have employed this property to design protease inhibitors where a silanediol mimics a hydrated amide carbonyl. These are more complex than any silanediols previously prepared and they have stimulated a broad investigation of organosilane chemistry.
Protease inhibitors are an important class of drugs, applicable to almost any disease. Our silanediols have been found to be reliable protease inhibitor design components, leading to low nanomolar inhibitors of an aspartic protease (HIV protease) and metalloproteases (thermolysin, angiotensin-converting enzyme).