News

The Davis−Beirut reaction is a versatile and robust N–N bond forming heterocyclization reaction for indazole synthesis developed at UC Davis by Prof. Mark J. Kurth and Visiting Prof. Makhluf J. Haddadin.

A combined effort between the Ames, Larsen, and Lagarias labs correlated spectral and photochemical properties underlying the intrinsic heterogeneity of the photoactive red/green cyanobacteriochrome NpR6012g4 from Nostoc punctiforme.

A combined effort between the Larsen, Cramer and Goodin labs characterized direct charge-transfer photodynamics in four iron-sulfur (FeS) proteins with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The labs identified multiple ligand-to-metal charge transfer populations were found to be induced by laser excitation that evolve into low lying charge-transfer states, which is mediated by the density of states and reorganization energy.

A collaboration among several groups in chemistry and physics at UC Davis unraveled a new thermoelectric compound for direct thermal to electrical power generation. This material presents a new structure type and an optimized composition, resulting in remarkable efficiency in the temperature range of important applications, such as solar thermoelectric generators where heat harvested from the sun power the thermoelectric generation device.

The Chen Glyco Group reported a new strategy for the synthesis of complex carbohydrates by designing a chemoenzymatic synthon (PMID: 29349857. Accepted article, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201712022/abstract). The synthon is easily accessible by chemical synthesis.

The research group of Alex Navrotsky recently published a new approach to the transformation of metal organic frameworks (Z. Akimbekov and coworkers, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 7952–7957). The novel mechanochemical synthesis approach overcomes kinetic barriers and unlocks new, more dense phases of increasing thermodynamic stability.

During the 2016-17 academic year, campus committed nearly $2M towards the purchase of instructional equipment. This is the first investment of a multi-year commitment in an effort to prioritize critical instructional equipment needs. Motivation for this investment came out of the undergraduate review process in which reports suggested campus pay closer attention to teaching laboratories

Assistant professor Kyle Crabtree’s research is focused on applying state-of-the-art techniques in microwave spectroscopy to solve problems in astrochemistry and in analyical chemistry. His Ph.D. studies at the University of Illinois used infrared laser spectroscopy to study molecular ions important for astrochemistry, and as a CfA postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, he used microwave spectroscopy to make the initial detections of several previously unknown molecules.

1. Susan Kauzlarich elected as part of the 2016 AAAS election as Chair-Elect of the Section on Chemistry.