Gregory M. Ferrence
Professor
B.S. 1991, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Ph.D. 1996, Purdue University
The Ferrence group prepares new lanthanide complexes of yttrium, Y, lanthanum, La, and lutetium, Lu, through variation of the supporting ligand environment. Work includes modification of tetraazaannulenes, optimizing ligand binding to metals through incorporation of tropocoronand ligands, and chemical transformation of trivalent lanthanide complexes, including aminolysis and hydrogenolysis. The significance of the research hinges on systematic investigation of factors (strength, size, number of ligands) that influence the reactivity of the complexes.

Christopher G. Hamaker
Associate Professor
B.S. 1993, E. Michigan University; Ph.D. 1999, Iowa State University
Research in the Hamaker group is focused on catalysis and coordination chemistry. Our work bridges the traditional areas of organic and inorganic chemistry, with exposure to analytical analysis techniques. Our first project is the development of novel ligands with potential environmental and catalytic applications. The goal is to prepare ligands that can be used for the removal of toxic heavy metals as well as catalytic noble metals from solution. We are also looking to prepare chiral ligands for use in asymmetric catalysis. Our second project is the investigation of intermolecular interactions of organic molecules in the solid state using X-ray crystallography.

Craig C. McLauchlan
Associate Professor
A.B. 1996, Harvard University; Ph.D. 2000, Northwestern University
Research interests lie with vanadium coordination chemistry, with projects focused on materials and bio-mimetic complexes. First, it has been shown that reactions of phosphonic acids with metal alkyl reagents leads to the formation of cage structures. Metal -oxy and -amino complexes have also been reacted with phosphonic acids to create these open frameworks. A goal of the McLauchlan group is to produce new vanadium phosphate or phosphonate complexes that possess open frameworks and to study their catalytic properties. Second, recent studies have shown that a number of vanadium complexes enhance the effects of insulin. A project in the lab involves bio-mimetic activity of V complexes, with the goal to gain an understanding of the oxidation under physiological conditions of a series of V(III) species with well-understood ligands and then implement the acquired knowledge in the synthesis of vanadium coordination complexes to be studied for bio-mimetic insulin-enhancing properties.

C. Frank Shaw
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D. 1970, Northwestern University
Metal-based drug mechanisms of actions; metalloprotein structure-function studies and examination of metals on peptide presentation in the immune system.

Lisa F. Szczepura
Professor
B.S. 1989, State University of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D. 1994, State University of New York at Buffalo
Research in the Szczepura lab focuses on the chemistry of transition metal cluster complexes. We focus on coordinating new types of ligands to clusters of six metal atoms and subsequently study the reactivity and physical properties of the product complexes. All new complexes are fully characterized using various spectroscopic techniques (NMR, IR, UV-vis), as well as electrochemical and crystallographic techniques when suitable. Such fundamental studies on these supraoctahedral complexes are aimed at providing a better understanding of their chemistry in the hopes of one day designing new cluster complexes for specific applications, such as catalysis.