UCLA

The 2021 Organic Graduate Symposium
2021-06-11 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
On Friday, June 11, the 2021 Organic Graduate Symposium featured research talks by twelve of this year’s UCLA chemistry graduate students. The Organic Graduate Symposium is an event that provides a forum for organic chemistry graduate students who are within one year of obtaining their Ph.D. to present their dissertation research at UCLA to their peers, researchers, and faculty. The Organic Graduate Symposium is open to the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry affiliates and their families.

NSF Center for Integrated Catalysis Webinar Series
2021-07-06 10:00
The NSF Center for Integrated Catalysis is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a monthly webinar series. The next webinar of this series will be held on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 at 10:00 AM. We are pleased to invite all students, postdocs, faculty, and staff.

SoCal Merck Symposium 2021
2021-07-19 13:00
SoCal Merck Symposium 2021

Caltech, UCLA, UC Irvine, and Merck

July 19, 2021, 1:00 to 6:00 pm PST

Event Program (all times PST)

1:00 pm – Carly Brennan, Prescher Group, UCI – Multicomponent Bioluminescence Imaging with Naphthylamino Luciferins
1:20 pm – Nick Hafeman, Stoltz Group, Caltech – The Total Synthesis of (–)-Scabrolide A
1:40 pm – Dr. Makeda Tekle-Smith, Doyle Group, UCLA – Nucleophilic C(sp3)–H Fluorination
2:00 – 2:10 pm – Break
2:10 – 2:20 pm – Molecule of the Month (MOM) rapid pitch presentations
2:20 – 3:00 pm – MOM poster session on GatherTown
3:00 – 3:10 pm – Break
3:10 pm – Andrew Kelleghan, Garg Group, UCLA – Intercepting Fleeting Cyclic Allenes with Transition Metal Catalysis
3:30 pm – Karli Holman, Reisman Group, Caltech – Synthetic Studies Toward Falcatin A
3:50 pm – Alex Lu, Dong Group, UC Irvine – Dynamic Kinetic Intermolecular Hydroacylation
4:10 – 4:20 pm – Break
4:20 pm – Dr. Andrew Neel, Associate Principal Scientist, Merck Process Chemistry – Sampling the Catalytic Spectrum to Deliver an Ideal Manufacturing Route to STING agonist MK-1454
5:00 pm – MOM winners presentation
5:10 – 6:00 pm – GatherTown poster session
WebEx link: https://merck.webex.com/merck/j.php?MTID=ma70457450bbe7498dfeefc56b608c96a
Meeting number (access code): 131 835 7557
Meeting password: [REDACTED]
GatherTown link: https://gather.town/app/tmhgx8fnOwrrwT14/2021%20SoCalMerckSymposium
Password: [REDACTED]

CIC Careers in Green Chemistry Seminar Series
2021-07-22 13:00, 2021-08-12 13:00, 2021-10-14 13:00
The Center for Integrated Catalysis is hosting a new seminar series called the “Careers in Green Chemistry.” With these webinars, we aim to bring speakers from a wide variety of careers, linked through green chemistry, to come talk about their current job as well as the career path that led them to that position. We are pleased to invite all students, postdocs, and faculty.

gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Alex Bradley
2021-07-23 15:30
Alex Bradley– AlumniQuinlan Group (2019)Sr. Life Science SpecialistL. E. K. Consulting, Los Angeles, CA

gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Alexander Patananan
2021-07-30 15:30
Alexander Patananan– AlumniClarke Group (2014)Medical Communication ManagerAmgen, Palmdale, CA

gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Phil McFadden
2021-08-06 15:30
Phil McFadden– AlumniClarke Group (1983)Associate ProfessorOregon State University, Corvallis, OR

gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Kristen Koch
2021-08-13 15:30
Kristen Koch– AlumniKoehler Group (2007)Senior Business AnalystCGH Technologies, Inc., Manassas, VA

gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Sean Shen
2021-08-20 15:30
Sean Shen– AlumniLoo Group(2016)Process Development ScientistAmgen, Camarillo, CA

Student Exit Seminar: Chen Lin
2021-08-23 15:00
Multiscale Simulation of Biophysics, with Emphasis on Rare-Event Sampling
The behavior of a biophysical systems often is quite different when investigated on different length scales and a complete description of such a system typically requires different approaches for these different length scales. At atomic and mesoscopic scales, a considerable number of degrees of freedom are involved. The associated free energy profiles are relatively rugged with energy barriers or kinetic bottlenecks preventing efficient sampling when doing numerical simulations. To alleviate this problem, a variety of sampling strategies have been developed
In this seminar, I will start with a general background of the multi-scale modeling of biophysical systems and review the different sampling strategies that are being used when doing simulations. Next, I will talk about two of my projects. The first one involves reaction-diffusion problems in a confined environment in the presence of attractive interactions. The second one is the diffusion-driven phase separation problem inside a cross-linked network of semi- flexible polymers. I will use these two projects to illustrate how one can apply multi-scale descriptions and sampling techniques to Non-equilibrium Biophysical systems.

CANCELLED - gBSA Summer Seminar - Dr. Fran Zone
2021-08-27 15:30
Fran Zone – Guest SpeakerLeadership Communication StrategistZone Communication, San Francisco, CA

gBSA Summer Seminar - Amateur Hour!
2021-09-03 15:30
Featuring incoming first-year students

Special Biochemistry Seminar - Prof. Francisco Carrau
2021-09-16 10:00

Chem 278: Dr. Megan Jackson
2021-09-22 16:00
“Molecular Design of Solids and Surfaces”
Abstract: Novel materials will be central to solving some of the greatest challenges facing us in the 21st century, including energy storage and utilization, chemical separations, water purification, and targeted drug delivery. This talk will focus on bringing molecular-level understanding to two areas of materials design. In part one, I will focus on bringing molecular-level precision to heterogeneous electrocatalytic active sites through a new class of materials called graphite-conjugated catalysts. In part two, I will discuss strategies for controlling the morphology and defect chemistry of a family of anisotropic metal-organic framework crystals that show promise in gas storage and separation.

Introduction of Biochemistry Faculty to First Year Biochemistry Graduate Students
2021-09-24 15:30

Chem 278: Dr. Jesse Peltier
2021-09-29 16:00
“Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes: from Replacing Metals to Metal Replacement”
Abstract: Stable singlet carbenes are flourishing with a diversity of applications: from ligands in catalysis to the stabilization of otherwise unisolable chemical species. Here, I will showcase the diverse and rich chemistry of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs), a class of stable singlet carbenes known for their high ambiphilic character. Deviating from typical carbene-organocatalysis, which is still dominated by Lewis basic carbenes, I will demonstrate that CAACs allow for the catalytic valorization of carbon monoxide, a small molecule known for its inertness. I will explain how the intrinsic properties of CAACs, carbenes known to mimic the electronic properties of transition metals, enable this traditionally transition metal catalyzed process. Afterward, I will discuss a methodology to achieve the absolute templating of coinage metal clusters by means of galvanic metal replacement. Interestingly, clusters, as opposed to larger nanomaterials, have broadly displayed the opposite process, anti-galvanic exchange (AGR). This can be attributed to a lack of stable active metal clusters and a lack of strong M0 character in existing ones. To access low-valent active metal clusters, I will illustrate how CAACs’ ambiphilicity can be exploited to stabilize these highly reactive species and achieve the complete galvanic exchange in metal clusters. Going a step further, I will discuss how these molecular models allowed us to better understand the reactivity of M(111) surfaces further delineating the intermediacy of clusters between homogenous and heterogeneous processes.

Chem 268 - Margot Quinlan
2021-10-01 15:30

Chem 228: Prof. Bin Zhang
2021-10-04 16:00
“Phase Separation in Genome Organization”

Chem 278: Prof. Rong Tong
2021-10-06 16:00
“Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization to Synthesize Functionalized Polyesters”
Abstract: Polymers are all around us – from our daily use to biopolymers and therapeutics. Inspired by recent advances in chemistry, molecular pharmaceutics and biotechnology, on-demand and triggerable “smart” systems offers opportunities from precisely synthesis of polymers to delivering drugs in dose-, spatial- and temporal- controlled manners. This seminar will mainly discuss our ongoing efforts in controlling synthesis of degradable polyesters by external stimuli such as light and electricity. I will focus on the chemical synthesis of stereoregular, high-molecular-weight polyesters with various pendant functional groups. Our synthetic strategies allow for the preparation of various syndiotactic and stereoblock copolymers from racemic monomers. The mechanistic exploration of such triggerable polymerizations inspired us to develop a scalable synthetic method to prepare stereosequence-controlled copolymers with improved toughness and shape memory properties.

Chem 268 - David Eisenberg and Carla Koehler
2021-10-08 15:30

CANCELLED - Chem 228: Prof. Mark Wilson
2021-10-11 16:00
“TBA”

Chem 228: Prof. Lan Cheng
2021-10-18 16:00
“Relativity throughout the periodic table: scalar relativity, spin-orbit, and spin-vibronic interactions”

Chem 278: Dr. Samantha Yruegas
2021-10-20 16:00
“Hydrocarbon Upgrading with Boron and Earth-Abundant Metals”
Abstract: The products of fossil fuels, specifically hydrocarbons, are ubiquitous in our daily lives, making up everyday objects from the plastic container that holds your lunch to the fuel that enables us to interconnect the globe. These products are at the core of our modern society, however the development of new boron-carbon and carbon-carbon bonds in these motifs is fundamentally challenging. The first part of my presentation will explore methodology for generating boron-containing aromatics. With both limited routes and the restricted amount of commericially available reagents, significant progress is necessary to expand the library of known boracycles. Boroles, highly reactive four π-electron heterocycles, are a family of compounds with the potential to serve to as effective reagents to produce unique boracyclic architectures with extended conjugation. The second part of my presentation will focus on upgrading di- and tri-substituted olefins into higher molecular weight products for lubricant production. We found that nickel catalysts with electron-deficient ligands result in a highly electrophilic nickel center that enables efficient olefin dimerization. In the same area, efforts towards sustainable catalysts for the dimerization of commodity dienes to higher value products using surface organometallic chemistry will be described. We have developed a series of silica-supported α-diiimine and pyridine(imine) iron precatalysts that maintain the activity and selectivity of their molecular analogues and can be recycled over multiple uses with minimal erosion in performance.

Understanding and Exploiting Redox in Conjugated Polymers: From Improved Polymer Conductivity, to Photoinduced Charge Transfer, to Next Generation Polymer Binders for Lithium Ion Batteries
2021-10-21 16:00
Semiconducting polymer have the potential to be use in an exciting array of devices, but their intrinsic conductivity is
low due to their large band gaps. Chemically doping conjugated polymers is an effective way to increase conductivity
and involves introducing treating the polymer with a strong electron acceptor or donor that can undergo charge
transfer (i.e. redox) with the polymer. The charge transfer reaction creates delocalized electrical carriers on the
polymer chain (usually positive polarons a.k.a. holes) while the dopant molecules remain in the film and serves as a
counterion. Unfortunately, strong electrostatic attraction between counter-ions and most dopants will localize the
polarons and reduce their mobility. Here, we first explore a new family dopants based on substituted icosahedral
dodecaborane (DDB) clusters that provide a unique combination of high oxidizing potential and large size. By tuning
the cluster redox potential, we can understand the role of energetics in polymer conductivity, and the large size helps
reduce electrostatic interactions, resulting in polymer films with highly delocalized polarons and thus high
conductivity. A combination of molecular substituent tuning, electronic spectroscopy, and X-ray scattering are used
to under chemical-structure-function relationships. We next consider applications for doped conjugated polymers, in
this case focusing on electrochemically doped polymers and their application as binders in lithium ion batteries.
Battery binders are usually chosen only for chemical inertness, but the use of conjugated polymer binder can
increase overall conductivity and thus rate capabilities. By tuning the polymer redox to match the electrode material,
highly conductive doped binders can be produced, and by tuning the side chains, ionic conductivity can be mixed with
electronic conductivity, both of which are needed for fast battery operation. Finally, we end by examining self-
assembling amphiphilic conjugated polymers, and consider both photo-doping and chemical doping of these unique
water soluble polymers.

Chem 268 - Juli Feigon
2021-10-22 15:30

Chem 228: Dr. Oliver Bruns
2021-10-25 11:00
“Biomedical Imaging beyond the Visible – Fluorescence Imaging in the Shortwave-Infrared”

Chem 278: Dr. Allegra Aron
2021-10-27 16:00
“Finding Metal-Binding Molecules: Native Electrospray-based Metabolomics”
Abstract: Metals are required for life, and microbes have evolved a number of small molecules to compete for, acquire, and utilize metals. Metal-binding compounds are important in a number of fields – these compounds can alter the growth of the microbial communities, enhance plant yields, control harmful pathogens, deliver metals in diseases of deficiencies, or can be used for bioremediation. Systematic methods for the discovery of metal-small molecule complexes from biological samples remain limited. In this talk, I describe a native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry-based method, in which post-column metal-infusion and pH adjustment is combined with ion identity molecular networking, a rule-based informatics workflow performed using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. This method has been used to identify metal-binding molecules in complex samples based on defined mass (m/z) offsets of ion features with the same chromatographic profiles. As this native metal metabolomics approach can be easily implemented on any liquid chromatography-based mass spectrometer, this method has the potential to become a key strategy for elucidating and understanding the role of metal-binding molecules in biology.

Boehringer-Ingelheim Seminar: Catalysis Innovation in Chemical Development: Effective Applications to BI Projects
2021-10-28 13:30
Abstract: Catalysis has become an indispensable, frequently applied tool for devising convergent, innovative, asymmetric and economical synthesis of APIs in the pharmaceutical industry. BI-Catalysis group, established in Ridgefield in 2008, contributed to the development of novel processes in many BI projects at all stages of research and development through close collaboration with all BI sites. In addition to the screening function of commercially available ligands, an innovative family of tunable BI-ligands was developed and emerged as privileged
ligands for applications to asymmetric catalysis. Screening capacity of catalytic reactions and selected examples from BI projects will be presented.
