UCLA

Boehringer-Ingelheim Seminar: Catalysis Innovation in Chemical Development: Effective Applications to BI Projects
2021-10-28 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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.

Boehringer-Ingelheim Seminar: New Developments in Electrochemical Synthesis
2021-10-28 16:00
Abstract: Owing to its many distinct characteristics, electrochemistry represents an attractive approach to discovering new reactions and meeting the prevailing trends in organic synthesis. In particular, electrocatalysis—a process that integrates electrochemistry and small-molecule catalysis—has the potential to substantially improve the scope of synthetic electrochemistry and provide a wide range of useful transformations. Despite its attractive attributes and extensive applications in energy-related fields, electrocatalysis has been used only sparingly in synthetic organic chemistry. Thus, there exists a clear impetus for inventing new catalytic strategies to improve the scope of synthetic electrochemistry and provide new platforms for reaction discovery and synthetic innovations. Toward this end, we developed a new catalytic approach that combines electrochemistry and redox-metal catalysis for the functionalization of alkenes to access a diverse array of vicinally functionalized structures. This talk details our design principle underpinning the development of electrocatalytic alkene difunctionalization and hydrofunctionalization with a particular emphasis on enantioselective electrocatalysis. In addition, our recent forays into electroreductive chemistry will be discussed, in which we harness the power of deeply reducing potentials to achieve previous challenging organic transformations.

Chem 268 - Guillaume Chanfreau and Joe Loo
2021-10-29 15:30

Chem 228: Prof. Aaron S. Rury
2021-11-01 16:00
“Assessing Hybrid Molecular Platforms for Next Generation Quantum Technologies “

Chem 278: Prof. Jonathan Barnes
2021-11-03 16:00
“Supramolecular Polymers and Crosslinkers to Control Structure, Properties, and Performance in Polymer Networks and Nanomaterials”

Chem 268 - Jorge Torres and Todd Yeates
2021-11-05 15:30

Chem 228: Prof. Nancy Makri
2021-11-08 16:00
“Real-Time Path Integral Methods for Electron-Vibration Dynamics of Large Molecular Aggregates”

Bristol Myers Squibb Seminar:TBA
2021-11-09 13:00, 2021-11-09 16:00

Chem 278: Dr. Rebecca Sherbo
2021-11-10 16:00
“Creating Sustainable Chemicals and Foods from Water, Air and Electricity”

Chem 268 - Rob Clubb
2021-11-12 15:30

Chem 228: Prof. Arthur G. Suits
2021-11-15 16:00
“Quantum Resonances in Molecular Systems at High Energy: Cold Collisions of Hot Molecules and Quantum Roaming Dynamics”

Chem 278: Prof. Lisa Olshansky
2021-11-17 16:00
“Conformational Control over Metal ion Reactivity”
Abstract: Metalloenzymes facilitate some of the most thermodynamically and kinetically challenging chemical transformation known, and in contrast to our industrial methods, they do so under extremely mild conditions. What are they doing that we are not? One aspect of metalloenzyme reactivity that is ubiquitous in nature yet often overlooked in the development of synthetic systems is the role that conformational gating steps play in mediating metallocofactor reactivity. Inspired by these enzymes, research in the Olshansky lab is focused on testing the hypothesis that conformational control represents an efficient means with which to control metal ion reactivity, promote electron and proton transfer steps, and mediate the interconversion of different forms of energy. However, naturally occurring metalloenzymes are extremely complex and studying them directly, it is often impossible to disentangle the interplay between conformation and reactivity, so instead, the Olshansky lab prepares and studies simplified model systems encapsulating this interplay. Through the construction of switchable artificial metalloproteins and coordination complexes, we are working to dissect the kinetic and thermodynamic consequences of conformational control, and we are preparing an array of switchable systems for applications in solar energy conversion, catalysis, and biomedicine.

Chem 218: Student Exit Seminar - Hannah Friedman
2021-11-18 12:00

The 2021 John D. Roberts Lecture - Physical Organic Chemistry on the Brain: Understanding the Nicotine Receptor
2021-11-18 16:00
The remarkable complexity of the human brain is evident at all levels, from anatomical to cellular to molecular. The central molecules of synaptic signaling comprise a diverse array of integral membrane proteins that are resistant to most approaches to high resolution structural characterization. As such, chemistry provides the most powerful tool for unraveling the structures and functions of the molecules of memory, thought, and sensory perception; of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia. Using the mindset and methodologies of physical organic chemistry, and combining them with molecular biology, electrophysiology, and computer modelling we have probed these complex membrane proteins with a precision and subtlety normally associated with small molecule studies. We have uncovered key interactions that allow agonists to bind, and that distinguish binding of natural ligands vs. substances of abuse, including a key cation-π interaction that enables tight binding of nicotine to specific regions of the brain.

Chem 268 - Steve Clarke and Roy Wollman
2021-11-19 15:30

Chem 228: Samanvaya Srivastava
2021-11-22 16:00
“Polyelectrolyte Complex-Based Robust and Tough Wet Adhesives”

Chem 278: Dr. Miguel Gonzalez
2021-12-01 16:00
“Controlling Chemistry through Confinement”

Chem 218: Student Exit Seminar - Derek Urwin
2021-12-02 12:00

Chem 268 - Cathy Clarke and Jose Rodriguez
2021-12-03 15:30

Chem 278: Prof. Manfred Scheer
2021-12-08 15:00
“The Close and Loose Relationship Between Carbon and Phosphorus”

CIC Careers in Green Chemistry Seminar Series
2021-12-09 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.

Chem 278: Dr. Juyao Dong
2022-01-05 16:00
“Advances in Genome Editing Therapeutics at Intellia and Pharma Career Opportunities for Chemists”

POSTPONED! Chem 268 - Naomi Courtemanche
2022-01-07 15:30
“Actin filament assembly mediated by formins: All roads lead to the barbed end”

Chem 228: Robert Phillips and Christina Hueschen
2022-01-10 16:00
“A Language Whose Characters are Triangles”

POSTPONED - NSF Center for Integrated Catalysis Webinar Series
2022-01-11 10:30
POSTPONED – 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, January 11th, 2021 at 10:30 AM. We are pleased to invite all students, postdocs, faculty, and staff.

Special Physical Chemistry Seminar - Elsa Sanchez Garcia
2022-01-13 12:00
“CL-FEP: An Accurate End-State Free Energy Perturbation Approach”

Postponed: Chapman Lectureship
2022-01-13 16:00
The Chapman Lecture has been postponed until futher notice.

Stereoselective Gold Catalysis: From Metal-Ligand Cooperation to SN2 Glycosylation
2022-01-13 16:00
Abstract: Metal-ligand cooperation is a versatile strategy for achieving efficient and/or stereoselective catalysis. Since 2014, we have developed a range of enabling remotely basic group-functionalized biaryl-2-ylphospine ligands (see Scheme A) for cooperative gold catalysis. With chiral elements built into these ligands, asymmetric transformations are developed in mechanistically rational manners. DFT calculations confirm the critical participation of the ligand remote basic group in catalysis. Several recent developments will be discussed. This type of bifunctional ligands also enables cooperative catalysis by other metals including Cu and Ag.
A different yet related approach to achieving stereoselective gold catalysis is developed specifically to address the long-standing challenge in carbohydrate synthesis, i.e., the lack of stereoselective synthesis of glycosidic bonds applicable to every sugar type. In this approach, as shown in Scheme B, a basic group is installed onto the anomeric leaving group of the carbohydrate donor and serves to direct the backend attack by a carbohydrate acceptor upon the leaving group activation by gold. The SN2 nature of the glycosylation and the general tolerance of many sugar types make this approach appealing. The progress made in this area will be discussed.

POSTPONED! Chem 268 - Jennifer Niven Shepherd
2022-01-14 13:15
“Microbial rhodoquinone biosynthesis proceeds via an atypical RquA-catalyzed amino transfer
from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to ubiquinone”
