2009 Undergraduate Researchers
- Philip Babcock
- Thomas Dailey
- Nicole Eng
- Margaret Hilton
- Taylor Hoyt
- Florisa Marie Lubrin
- Stephen Regina
- Blair Shackleton
- Clifford Woodford
- Isaac Zoch
Mills Research Group
The Mills research group is exploring a set of dications and dianions that are potentially antiaromatic. The theory that explains the stability, structure, and magnetic properties of benzene, an aromatic molecule, also defines a set of compounds that are the antithesis of benzene. These antiaromatic compounds are expected to be very unstable so few chemists have chosen to work in the area. Neutral compounds predicted to be antiaromatic are indeed very unstable and hard to handle, but the set of dications and dianions we are working on are much more kinetically stable, perhaps because they can’t react with each other because the charges prevent the species from approaching each other. The goal of the research is to understand which of the properties of benzene, stability, lack of bond length alternation, or the downfield shift of its protons in the NMR spectrum, is really a characteristic of aromaticity rather than simply a property of benzene. Antiaromaticity is basically one end of a continuum with aromaticity at the other. By making and characterizing antiaromatic species we can expand the range of the data in this continuum and observe which of the properties used to define aromaticity are related to the others.
The projects in my group all involve making the precursors to these dications and dianions. The dications are formed by removing two electrons with a very strong Lewis acid; the dianions are formed by adding two electrons with either lithium or potassium metal. Students work in research teams with a more experienced student paired with one or more less experienced student making related molecules.
Applicants must adhere to Chemistry department procedures and deadlines.
Qualifications of successful applicants
Students must have finished CHEM 2319 and 2119. For students wondering if they would enjoy this type of research experience, it is a lot like cooking. You combine ingredients, let them react together, and then see if you have a successful cake or a failure. Research also tends to be a very social activity with good conversation during the “dead” time while reactions are running.
Sources of student funding
Students receive support from the National Science Foundation and the Welch Foundation. Students funded by McNair are also welcome to apply.
