Faculty Research

Department of Chemistry and Physics

Dr. Tamara Hamilton

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Porphyrins

Welcome to the Hamilton Research Group at Barry University! Research in the group is performed entirely by undergraduates, who learn techniques including organic synthesis, solid-state chemistry, synthesis of air-sensitive materials, column chromatography, self-assembly, coordination chemistry, green chemistry, crystallization, NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and analysis of X-ray crystallographic data.

Our research program has two goals:

  • Development of more environmentally benign syntheses of porphyrins using a solvent-free approach called mechanochemistry, where reagents are ground together using a mortar and pestle, or an automated ball mill.
  • Using exo-dentate porphyrins as ligands in metal-organic assembly metal-organic polyhedra and evaluation of their efficacy as catalysts.

Solvent-free Synthesis of Porphyrins

Solvent-free Synthesis of Porphyrins

We combine an aldehyde with pyrrole in the presence of an acid catalyst and grind using a mortar and pestle. After a few minutes grinding, a pink crystalline powder forms. Presence of a porphyrin is confirmed by UV/Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The mechanochemical process can also be automated using a ball-mill. We have shown that the approach works with a variety of aldehydes, giving yields similar to, or in some cases greater than, those available through traditional solution-based methods (Shy et al. Faraday Discuss. 2014, 170, 59-69). We are currently working on expanding the approach to include aldehydes with bulky R-groups, mixed-aldehyde syntheses, and synthesis of di-substituted porphyrins.

Current and Former Undergraduate Research Students

  • Lise-Berthe Laurent, current student.
  • Michaela Reyes, 2020.
  • Nirva Maxi, 2017. Went on to graduate studies at the University of Georgia.
  • Diana Cordero, 2017. Went on to graduate studies at MIT. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
  • Qiwen Su, 2017. Went on to graduate studies at Boston College. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
  • Suzely Alexis, 2016.
  • Cindy Molina, 2016. Went on to veterinary school, Michigan State University
  • Shanika Kingston, 2016. Went on to work as a research associate at the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University, Arizona.
  • Taylor Sabol, 2015.
  • Victoria Hoelscher, 2015. Went on to McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas.
  • Miriam Basden, 2014. Went on to be a Nursery Wildlife Rehabilitator, South Florida Wildlife Center.
  • Hannah Shy, 2013.Went on to the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
  • Deepa Gharbharan, 2013. MS Program Anesthesiology Assistant, Nova Southeastern University.
  • Paula Mackin, 2013. MS Program Occupational Therapy, Western University, Ontario, Canada.
  • Meghan Knol, 2012. Went on to University of Michigan Medical School.
  • Elvis Camacho, 2011. Went on to Columbia University Neuroscience Program.
  • Cherice Boyce, 2010. Went on to MS Program in Public Health, University of West Indies.
  • Vanessa Narciso, 2010. Went on to DMD Program, Nova Southeastern University.
  • Megan Barnes, 2010.
  • Simon Astor, 2009. Went on to MD Program, Nova Southeastern University.
  • Frantzesca Belancourt, 2009. Went on to MS Program in Biomedical Sciences, Larkin Health Sciences Institute.
  • Andrea Orvieto, 2009.

Links

Group members at Barry's STEM Symposium, 2016 (L to R) Nirva Maxi, Qiwen Su, Dr. Hamilton, Shanika Kingston, Diana Cordero, Victoria Hoelscher.

Group members at Barry's STEM Symposium, 2016 (L to R) Nirva Maxi, Qiwen Su, Dr. Hamilton, Shanika Kingston, Diana Cordero, Victoria Hoelscher.

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