Mechanistic Organic Chemistry of Relevance to the Interstellar Medium

通过这个奖项，有机和高分子化学项目支持威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的罗伯特·J·麦克马洪教授的工作。这项研究将探索有机化学中富碳分子的结构、反应活性和光谱。麦克马洪教授、他的学生和他们的合作者将合成新的分子，这些分子凭借其不同寻常的成键而具有高度活性。他们将确定它们的光谱性质，阐明它们特有的热和光化学反应能力，并在火焰和星际空间中寻找它们的存在。这些研究影响到化学和物理科学的各个领域，包括天体化学、火焰和燃烧以及烟尘的形成。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括作为跨学科研究团队的一部分，培训下一代研究生和本科生研究复杂的化学问题。机械有机化学方面的培训也为随后在工业或学术界的职业生涯提供了宝贵的基础。麦克马洪教授以前的同事中有一半受雇于化工或制药行业，一半在学术界担任教职，其中大部分是女性。麦克马洪教授和他的同事将继续参与各种科学教育和外展活动，包括与霍华德大学、斯佩尔曼学院和路易斯安那州泽维尔大学的少数族裔学生和教职员工发展研究合作。

With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports the work of Professor Robert J. McMahon of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This research will explore the structure, reactivity, and spectroscopy of carbon-rich molecules in organic chemistry. Prof. McMahon, his students, and their collaborators, will synthesize new molecules that are highly reactive by virtue of their unusual bonding. They will determine their spectroscopic properties, elucidate their characteristic thermal and photochemical reactivity, and, search for their existence in flames and in interstellar space. These studies impact diverse areas of chemical and physical science, including astrochemistry, flames and combustion, and soot formation.The broader impacts of this research involves the training the next generation of graduate and undergraduate students in the study of complex chemical problems as part of an interdisciplinary research team. Training in mechanistic organic chemistry also provides a valuable foundation for subsequent careers in industry or academia. Half of Prof. McMahon's former coworkers are employed in the chemical or pharmaceutical industry, half hold faculty positions in academia and a large number have been women. Prof. McMahon and his coworkers will continue their engagement in a variety of science education and outreach activities, including the development of research collaborations with minority students and faculty at Howard University, Spelman College, and Xavier University of Louisiana.