UCLA

UCLA Student Organization for Cultural Diversity in Science Lectureship
2017-02-23 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Procter&Gamble
UCLA Student Organization for Cultural Diversity in Science Lectureship Series
“The Catalytic, Formal Homo-Nazarov Cyclization as a Promising Template for Diversity-Oriented Synthesis”
Abstract. A critical challenge in the field of organic synthesis is assembling large collections of diverse compounds for use as chemical building blocks, biological probes, therapeutics or organic materials. Toward this end, the catalytic, formal homo-Nazarov cyclization, an intramolecular ring-opening cyclization strategy, represents a promising template for accessing chemical diversity. Herein, several derivations of these cyclization strategies to distinct molecular skeletons will be discussed. These strategies will highlight chemical modularity and versatility along a “mix-and-match” approach to access broader chemical space. Finally, specific applications of the methods toward the synthesis of biologically-relevant molecules and natural products will be showcased.

2016 Seaborg Medal Award Dinner
2016-11-12 18:30
The UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
will award the 2016 Glenn T. Seaborg Medal to
Professor Michael E. Jung

UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Seaborg Medal Award Dinner Banquet
on Saturday, November 12, 2016
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Reception – Luskin Center Centennial Terrace
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Dinner – Luskin Center Centennial Ballroom
8:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. – Award CeremonyStudent Poster Session AwardsSeaborg Medal PresentationAcceptance Remarks
Registration is required. Click here to register.
Visit www.seaborg.ucla.edu for more information.

Computational Investigations of Organic Reactions on Graphene, Fullerenes and Carbon Nanotubes
2014-08-21 12:00
Abstract: In the past thirty years, carbon-based nanomaterials, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene, have spurred great interest due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Fullerenes and carbon nanotubes have been well studied, while studies of graphene, a relatively new material, are less advanced. A variety of chemical modification strategies have been successfully established on fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, and important functional changes have been demonstrated. Some attempts have been made to transfer these chemical modifications onto more inert graphene, yet very few give satisfactory results. I will describe density functional theory calculations to study one of the functionalization approaches, cycloaddition reactions, on carbon allotropes, especially graphene. Ideally graphene is composed solely of sp2 carbons in extended conjugation. These extended π systems can function either as 2π or 4π components in cycloaddition reactions. We have explored 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, Diels-Alder reactions, (2+2) cycloadditions, (4+4) cycloadditions and (1+2) cycloadditions on a series of graphene models. We also assessed non-covalent interactions of aromatics and small π system with graphene. Our work provides clear predictions of the energetics of the adduct formation on different sites of graphene, increasing understanding of graphene chemistry and guiding experiments carried out by collaborators.

Special Organic Seminar: "Challenges in Regiocontrol of Benzyne Reactions"
2014-08-18 15:00
Special Organic Seminar
“Challenges in Regiocontrol of Benzyne Reactions”
Abstract. Benzyne (= ortho-Benzyne) is one of the most important reactive intermediates bearing a triple bond in a benzene ring. Numerous benzyne reactions have been developed during the last three decades while a mild benzyne generation using a fluoride ion has been recognized as an extraordinary useful method. However, it is also true that chemists have suffered from low regioselectivities of unsymmetrically substituted benzynes. Therefore, specific directing groups that have a strong effect on controlling the orientation of the cycloaddition reactions and also can be converted into any other substituents after the cycloaddition have been long desired. In this seminar, I would like to present some of our recent work on regioselectivity control of benzyne reactions using substituent effect of silyl and boryl groups. The origin of regiochemistry would be theoretically explained by DFT (density functional theory) calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level and NBO (Natural Bond Orbital) analysis.

Evolution of Novel Components of the Bacterial Flagellar Motor
2014-07-24 11:00

Celebration of the 100th Birthday of Saul Winstein
2012-10-06 10:00
The celebration goes on all day at CNSI, 10am to 5 pm, followed by a reception and banquet at the UCLA Faculty Center, 5 pm to 10 pm.

2012 Chemistry & Biochemistry Graduation Ceremony
2012-06-16 17:00

Exploring Substrate Specificity in Sortase Enzymes
2012-05-18 15:30
Biochemistry Midstream Graduate Seminar

Manipulating Photochemical Processes Through Confinement and Weak Interactions
2012-05-17 17:00
Refreshments to be served at 4:30 pm

Unique Properties of Electrophilic Metal Centers Supported by Ferrocene Diamide Ligands
2012-05-16 16:30
Inorganic Chemistry Graduate Seminar
Refreshments will be served.

Predicting Molecular Crystal Properties with Quantum Chemistry
2012-05-07 16:00
