RUI: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into the Reactions of Atomic Carbon with Organic Substrates

本次RUI奖授予Dasan M.位于缅因州沃特维尔的科尔比学院化学系的Thamattoor博士的目标是生产电弧产生的碳原子并研究它们的反应。 有趣的二价碳中间体（卡宾）将通过与各种有机化学底物的反应产生。 更具体地，这些有机底物包括烯烃、炔烃、甘菊环、酰氯、1，2-二羰基化合物和具有高度应变的碳-碳单键的分子。这些中间体的化学和它们形成和消耗的途径将通过实验和现代计算技术进行研究。 拟议的工作，它集成了合成，机械和计算有机化学的元素，旨在为本科生提供一个健康的研究经验，使他们能够对科学知识作出原创性贡献。如上所述，这项研究最重要的广泛影响之一是指导本科研究人员，并在以本科为主的机构中将他们培养为未来的科学家。 将根据已经取得成功的办法，实施一些将研究与教育相结合的想法。例如，在有机化学实验室入门课程中纳入研究类项目和新的教学实验就是一个例证。该提案还旨在继续Thamattoor教授非常成功的项目，该项目在夏季为高中生提供研究机会。妇女，少数民族和来自弱势背景的学生也将被招募参加夏季研究活动。此外，还将采取新的举措，与小学教师建立伙伴关系，专门加强K-3级的科学课程。 最后，预计将阐明一些重要的基本化学反应途径。

This RUI award to Professor Dasan M. Thamattoor of the Chemistry Department at Colby College in Waterville, ME has as its goal the production of arc generated carbon atoms and the study of their reactions. Interesting divalent carbon intermediates (carbenes) will be generated by reactions with a variety of organic chemical substrates. More specifically, these organic substrates include alkenes, alkynes, azulene, acid chlorides, 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds and molecules with highly strained single carbon-carbon bonds. The chemistry of these intermediates and the pathways by which they are formed and consumed will be investigated experimentally and by modern computational techniques. The proposed work, which integrates elements of synthetic, mechanistic, and computational organic chemistry, is designed to provide undergraduates with a wholesome research experience, and enable them to make original contributions to scientific knowledge. Among the most important broader impacts of this research, as mentioned above, is the mentoring of undergraduate researchers and training them as future scientists in a predominantly undergraduate institution. A number of ideas for melding research and education, based on approaches that have already met with success, will be implemented. This is exemplified, for instance, by the incorporation of research-like projects and new pedagogical experiments in the introductory organic chemistry laboratory course. The proposal also seeks to continue Prof. Thamattoor's highly successful program that provides research opportunities to high school students over the summer months. Women, minorities, and students from disadvantaged backgrounds will also be recruited to participate in summer research activities. In addition, there will be new initiative that forges partnerships with elementary school teachers to specifically strengthen the science curriculum in the K-3 level. Finally, it is expected that a number of important fundamental chemical reaction pathways will be elucidated.