Probing the Role of Steric and Electronic Effects on the Synthesis, Properties, and Reactivity of Low Oxidation State Rare-Earth and Actinide Metal Complexes

Abstract: Ever since Lappert and coworkers isolated the first examples of crystallographically characterizable La(II) and Ce(II) complexes in 2008, molecular complexes containing rare-earth metals in the +2 oxidation state have been isolated for the rest of the series, except for radioactive Pm.

Investigating Various Fascinating Aspects of Gold Nanoparticles in DNA Research, Material Science, and Cancer Therapy

Abstract: In this talk, we will explore the intriguing interactions between DNA and gold nanoparticles, focusing on their newly explored binding mechanisms. Key topics will include the selective binding of gold nanoparticles to mismatched and/or single-stranded regions of double-stranded DNA and the subsequent movement of these particles along the DNA molecule over the long molecular distances.

New Strategies to Prevent Premature Birth and Break Strong Bonds

Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic molecules on earth and are critical to a myriad of biological processes. The Vanderbilt Laboratory for Glycoscience uses a blend of synthetic organic chemistry and microbiology to elucidate the biological roles of carbohydrates, with a foci on advances in chemical synthesis and learning new mechanistic concepts. Emerging areas in the lab focus on the synthesis and evaluation of complex alkaloids. Our discussion will be divided into two categories: application of the host defense properties of human milk and the synthesis of iboga alkaloids.

On-Demand Control of Single-Molecule Chemistry through Vibrational Characterization and Manipulation

Abstract: Chemical processes hinge on the dynamic rearrangement of nuclei within molecules. Controlling these motions with precision has been a long-standing goal in chemistry. My lab focuses on achieving this by manipulating interactions between individual molecules and their nanoscale environment. We engineer the potential energy surface at this scale to control molecular properties such as structure and reactivity.

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