Dr. An T. Vu
NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow
EDUCATION
1997 - Present Postdoctoral Research Associate, State Univeristy of NY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
Advisor: Dr. Iwao Ojima
1992 - 1997 Ph. D., Organic Chemiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Advisor: Dr. William E. Crowe
1987 - 1992 B.S. Chemistry (ACS Certified), Mercer University, Macon, GA
Advisor: Dr. Robert J. Hargrove
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Development of novel organic synthetic methodology aided by transition metals and their complexes.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral
8/97 - present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, SUNY at Stony Brook Chemistry Department.
• Currently studing the intramolecular silylcarbotrimerization (SiCaT) of dodec-1,6,11-triynes catalyzed by rhodium complexes. This work provides a new and efficient one-pot synthesis of tricyclic tetracyclic polysubstituted benzene derivatives starting from acyclic starting materials.
Graduate
7/92 - 5/97: Research Assistant, Emory University Chemistry Department.
• Studied the intramolecular reductive cyclization of d,e-unsaturated enones and enals with Cp2Ti(PMe3)2, its carbonylation and reductive elimination. This work provides a convenient one-pot synthesis of fused, bicyclic g-butyrolactones. g-Butyrolactones occur in about 10% or more of natural products.
• Studied the unique mode of reactivity of Cp ligands and of early metal metallocenes. This work illustrates the first and only example of irreversible h5-cyclopentadienyl reductive elimination and an unusual sequence of three titanium-mediated reactions in which four organic components are coupled to form four new carbon-carbon bonds and five new stereocenters. This reaction sequence provides a facile one-pot synthesis of several types of complex organic molecules (tricyclic lactols, tricyclic fulvenes, benzyl-substituted cyclopentanols, and tetracyclic spiroketals) starting from simple organic materials.
• Discovered a new reduction method via hydromagesation. This reaction provides an efficient method for reduction of imines and olefins utilizing Grignard reagents with catalytic quantities of commercially available Cp2TiCl2.
1/96 - 5/97: Teaching Associate, Emory University Chemistry Department.
Taugh Undergraduate Organic Research.
8/93 - 6/95: Laboratory Manager, Emory University Chemistry Department.
• Designed and constructed an undergraduate research laboratory for Emory's Undergraduate Summer Research Program.
• Conducted experiments, presented lectures and developed experimental procedures for Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory.
• Oriented new Teaching Assistants and students.
• Monitored chemical inventories and manage laboratory wastes.
Undergraduate
9/91 - 6/92: Research Assistant/Instrumental Analyst, Mercer University Chemistry Department.
• Educational research on analgesic drugs; isolation of their active ingredients from brand-name tablets; characterization of these ingredients by NMR, IR, GC/MS and HPLC.
• Use of GC/MS in qualitative and quantitative analysis of perfumes.
6/91 - 9/91: Research Assistant, Mercer University, School of Medicine.
• Isolation and cultivation of Macrophage cells of mice.
• Methods of quantitative determination of cell samples.
SKILLS
• Design and synthesis of organometallic complexes and their application in organic synthesis. Extensive use of dry box and Schlenck glass techniques to handle air- and moisture-sensitive organometallic compounds and reactions.
• Two-year experience with single-crystal X-ray analysis for structure determination of organometallic intermediates and stereochemistry of complex organic molecules. Extensive database search using Cambridge X-ray Crystallography Database.
• Expertise in separation, purification and structure elucidation of complex organic compounds using modern instrumentation including multinuclear FT-NMR and FT-IR.
• Familiar with Molecular Modeling; extensive database search using Beilstein, REACCS and Chem Abstracts.
• Excellent technical communication skill. Fluent in English.
HONORS
1992 Mercer University Merck Index Award.
1990 - 1991 Mercer University Best Organic Chemistry Student Award.
1991 - 1992 Mercer University Best Physical Chemistry Student Award.
1990 - 1992 Mercer University Scholarship.
1990 - 1992 Macon City Scholarship.
Member of: The American Chemical Society, Organic Division (1992 - present); Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honor Chemical Society.
PUBLICATIONS
Original papers:
"Direct Synthesis of Fused, Bicyclic g-Butyrolactones via Tandem Reductive Cyclization-Carbonylation of Tethered Enals and Enones," Crowe, W. E.; Vu, A. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 1557.
"Cyclopentadienyl Activation via Reductive Elimination: An Old Ligand Learns Some New Tricks," Crowe, W. E.; Vu, A. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 5508.
"New Insertion Reactions of 2-Bis(cyclopentadienyl)-1-oxa-2-titanabicyclo-[3.3.0]octanes. Efficient Synthesis of Polycyclic Ring Systems via Unusual Rearrangements of Cyclopentadienyl Ligand," Crowe, W. E.; Vu, A. T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, Scheduled to be submitted.
Book Chapter:
“Recent Developments in the Titanocene-Catalyzed and Mediated Intramolecular Reductive Cyclization of Heteroatom-Containing Unsaturated Organic Compounds,” Vu, A. T.; Crowe, W. E. In Advances in Metal-Organic Chemistry, Liebeskind, L. S., Ed.; JAI Press Inc.: Greenwich. In press.
Abstracts:
"New Pathways for Reductive Cyclization and Reductive Metallacycle Cleavage," Crowe, W. E.; Vu, A. T.; Rachita, M. J.; Goldberg, D. R.; Ginn, J. Abstracts of Paper of the American Chemical Society. No: Inorg. 595, 1996, 211th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
"Polycyclic Molecules via Tandem Reductive Cyclization-Insertion Reaction Sequences," Crowe, W. E.; Vu, A. T.; Ginn, J. Abstracts of Paper of the American Chemical Society. No: Org. 586, 1997, 213th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
PRESENTATIONS
August 25, 1996. Orlando, Florida.
Lecture entitled "One-Pot Synthesis of Polycyclic Ring Systems via Titanium-Mediated Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation. Activation of Cyclopentadienyl Ligand via Irreversible Reductive Elimination," Vu, A. T.; Crowe, W. E. Abstract No. 11, Division of Organic Chemistry, 212th American Chemical Society National Meeting.
April 25, 1997. Mercer University, Department of Chemistry, Macon, Georgia. (Invited speaker)
Lecture entitled "One-Pot Synthesis of Polycyclic Ring Systems via Titanium-Mediated Reductive Coupling and Carbocyclization Reactions." Vu, A. T.
March 31, 1998. Dallas, Texas.
Lecture entitled "Novel Rhodium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Silylcarbotrimerization of Triynes,” Vu, A. T.; McCullagh, J. V.; Kinoshita, A.; Ojima, I. Abstract No. 150, Division of Organic Chemistry, 215th American Chemical Society National Meeting.