Research
My research is primarily in the area of organic compounds based on hypervalent iodine. This interesting group of molecules includes [hydroxy-(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (Koser's reagent, HTIB), iodobenzene diacetate, and the Dess-Martin periodane. These and many related compounds have achieved the status of "reagent" in contemporary synthetic methods. Due to the higher oxidation state of iodine, these compounds act as mild oxidants capable of an ever expanding scope of synthetic applications. With the recent interest in "green" methods of organic synthesis, including the need for reagents that have application in combinatorial methods, my focus is the development and study of new hypervalent iodine reagents. Currently, I am conducting investigations into a 'green' analog of Koser's reagent, where the reduced organoiodine byproduct is water soluble and can easily be removed from the reaction mixture, recycled and reused.
Teaching
Presently, my responsibilities include the development of the CHEM 430 Organic Spectral Analysis course. The course has been developed to provide the students with an overview of modern spectroscopic techniques, including FT-IR, multinuclear FT-NMR, UV-vis and mass spectrometry. While this course will be next be offered in the fall of 2007, it will feature our state-of-the-art Bruker Avance 400 MHz NMR spectrometer we have recently installed. The Topspin software and remote control of the instrument will literally allow the use and demonstration of the spectrometer from any lecture room on campus.
I am one of the two organic chemistry faculty and take great pride in the instruction of CHEM 210/212 as well as the laboratory course, CHEM 213. It is my belief that the course should feature fundamentals and core concepts, rather than trying to cover the entire application of organic chemistry, which has become too large in scope for a two-semester sequence. While my upper level courses feature state-of-the-art computer presentation techniques, I believe organic chemistry should only be taught with chalk and a board - always back to basics!
Hypervalent Iodine
While the idea of "hypervalent" iodine compounds may seem a difficult concept at first, the chemistry is easily related to the core concepts of basic organic chemistry.
For example, [hydroxy-(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (HTIB) or Koser's reagent bascically functions as a highly evolved bromine analog. If you can think of a reaction of elemental bromine with an organic compound, you already know one of the reactions of HTIB!