Chemical Bond – October 2016

Vol. 67, No. 7, October 2016

Liviu Mirica snags 2016 Saint Louis Award

Pegah Jalili, past chair of the St Louis Section–ACS and chair of the Saint Louis Award jury, has announced the winner of the 2016 Saint Louis Award.

Dr Liviu Mirica obtained his BS from Caltech in 1999, where he carried out undergraduate research with Harry Gray. He earned his PhD from Stanford in 2005, working for Dan Stack on oxygen activation by small molecule mimics of copper enzymes. After an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship with Judith Klinman on mechanistic studies of non-heme enzymes at Berkeley, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Washington University in 2008. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013, and full Professor in 2016. He has received numerous awards and fellowships in recognition of his work, such as the Alfred P Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship in 2012, the NSF Career Award in 2013, and most recently, the Saltman Lectureship “Metals in Biology” Gordon Research Conference and an Organometallics Young Investigator Fellowship in 2014. He has also been recognized for outstanding teaching with a Sony Electronics Scholarship Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011 and an Undergraduate and a Research Mentor of the Year Award from Washington University in 2012.

Dr Mirica has broad research interests that span organometallic chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry. He has made important contributions to the development of new catalysts of relevance to renewable energy by developing ligands that can stabilize transition metals such as palladium and nickel in unusual oxidation states. He was the first to isolate a mononuclear complex of Pd⁺³. He has also shown that these higher valent metal complexes can lead to carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation, with direct implications for the development of catalysts for the activation of methane and reduction of carbon dioxide. The work is described in a series of impactful publications in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Organometallics, and Chemical Communications. In the area of bioinorganic chemistry, Dr Mirica has been studying the role of metal ions in the oligomerization of Aβ peptides implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and the development of therapeutics and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents for this degenerative disease. His work in this area has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society as well as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. His work has also attracted major funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.

Dr Mirica was born and grew up in Romania, before coming to the US to attend college. His wife, Liudmila, is a financial manager at Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine. They are the proud parents of a four-year-old son, Max, who keeps them deeply involved in the world of LEGOs.

The Saint Louis Award, sponsored by the Monsanto Company and administered by the Saint Louis Section–ACS, is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the profession of chemistry and demonstrated potential to further the advancement of the chemical profession. The award, consisting of a $1,500 honorarium and a plaque, is presented at the Saint Louis Award Banquet that will be held Saturday Oct. 15, 2016 (reservations required). The program for the St Louis Award Symposium, prior to the banquet, are set.

Saint Louis Award Symposium 2016 program

The broad array of speakers for the Saint Louis Award Symposium, Saturday, October 15th, reflects the award winner’s wide-ranging research interests. Come for the science; come back for the banquet.

Metals for Green Chemistry and Medicine

honoring Liviu Mirica
Department of Chemistry, Washington University
2016 Saint Louis Award winner

Louderman Hall 458, Washington University Danforth Campus
(see venue information below)

1:15pm — Dr Joseph Ackerman, Washington University (Chair, Saint Louis Section–ACS)
Welcome and general introductions

1:20pm — Dr William E Buhro, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Washington University (Symposium Chair)
Introduction and Salute to Dr Mirica

1:25pm — Dr Liviu Mirica, Department of Chemistry, Washington University (Saint Louis awardee)
High-valent Transition Metal Catalysis

2:15pm — Dr Dan Stack, Department of Chemistry, Stanford University
Biological Relevance of Cu(III)

3:05pm — Refreshment break

3:25pm — Dr Wesley Bernskoetter, Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri–Columbia
Conversions of Carbon Dioxide to Useful Chemicals with Inexpensive Metals

4:15pm — Dr Buck Rogers, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University–Saint Louis
Development of Radiometal-labeled PET Imaging Agents

5:05pm — Dr William E Buhro
Concluding remarks

Reception immediately following in Louderman 461

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Venue information: Enter parking structure via Throop Drive from Forest Park Pkwy on north edge of campus or Snow Way Drive from Big Bend on the west end (map). Download the parking permit and display it on your dashboard. Follow path marked on map to Louderman Hall.

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6:30pm — Saint Louis Award Banquet, Glen Echo Country Club, 3401 Lucas and Hunt Rd, Normandy, MO
Reservations required

Reserve for 2016 Saint Louis Award Banquet

Saturday, October 15th, directly after the Saint Louis Award Symposium
Glen Echo Country Club*, 3401 Lucas & Hunt Road, Saint Louis, MO 63121

6:30 pm cocktails (open bar)
Hors D’ Oeuvres:
Candied bacon
Veggie stuffed mushroom caps

7:00 pm banquet
Menu
1st Course:
Mixed Green Salad 2 dressings on table (House and Italian)
Entrée:
Tenderloin Oscar; tenderloin topped with crabmeat
Asparagus and a béarnaise sauce
Starch – Potato: chefs choice
Seasonal Vegetables

Optional Entrée: Fish substitute or a vegetarian entrée

Dessert:Cherries Jubilee

8:00 pm program

• Dr Joseph Ackerman, Professor of Chemistry, Washington University–Saint Louis and Chair, St. Louis Section–ACS
  Opening Remarks and Award Presentation
• Dr William E Buhro, Chair, Department of Chemistry, Washington University–Saint Louis
  Introduction of the Awardee
• Dr Liviu Mirica, 2016 Saint Louis Awardee
  Awardee Address

Please send reservations, including check, by October 12th to:

Lawrence Barton, Professor Emeritus
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
315 Benton Hall (MC 27)
University of Missouri–St Louis
Saint Louis, MO 63121
email lbarton@umsl.edu
office phone 314.516.5334; cell 314-698-9748; fax 314.516.5342

Make checks payable to Saint Louis Section–ACS and note any special dietary limitations. Please send an email confirmation to Dr Barton, with the following information:

Name(s) _______________________________________________________

Number attending _____ × $60.00 each = amount remitted $_______________

Special dietary limitations, if any ______________________________________

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*Venue directions:
Glen Echo Country Club is in Normandy, in the southwest sector of the intersection of Natural Bridge Road and Lucas & Hunt Road. Use either entrance:
(1) main entrance drive: turn west off Lucas & Hunt Road; Edison Avenue will be on the opposite side of the road almost adjacent to the entrance drive. Continue on the winding drive, and the parking lot will be on your right adjacent to the clubhouse.
(2) back entrance: turn south off Natural Bridge Road onto St Marys Lane, just east of the post office. Continue through the gate, veer right, and park in front of the clubhouse.

Midwest Award to Petrich of ISU

Jacob W Petrich, Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State University, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He received his BS from Yale University (1980) and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Chicago (1985), under the mentorship of Graham Fleming. He went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, with Dr. Jean-Louis Martin.

He joined the Iowa State University chemistry faculty in 1989, and served as its Chair from 2005 to 2011. During this period he actively involved the department in the beginning of Iowa State University’s NSF-funded ADVANCE program (2006). He also oversaw the construction and inauguration of a new chemistry building (2010), Hach Hall, which brought to fruition the many efforts of a long line of his predecessors.

His research group collaborates extensively with scientists both on and off the Iowa State University campus. Petrich uses light to study a range of fundamental and applied problems, ranging from subdiffraction-limited imaging to food safety. Most recently, much of his effort is devoted to characterizing materials for alternate energy sources, such as biofuels and photovoltaics.

Petrich has received college awards for outstanding teaching (2016), graduate mentoring (2014), achievement in intellectual property (2011), departmental leadership (2009), and research (2004). Among his other recognitions are election as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008), R&D 100 Award (2000) for developing technology to detect fecal and ingesta contamination on carcasses, Finsen Award Lecturer from the Association Internationale de Photobiologie and the American Society for Photobiology (2000), and Office of Naval Research Young Investigator (1991).

Petrich will receive the award at the Award Banquet, October 27th, at the Midwest Regional Meeting in Manhattan, KS.

Women Chemists Committee presents

The Women Chemists Committee is delighted to present guest speaker Ms Ashley Neybert, BS Chemistry and recipient of the 2015 National WCC Overcoming Challenges Award.

Her topic: Ad astra per aspera: to the stars through difficulty
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 12:00-2:00 pm
Wang Gang Restaurant
1035 Century Drive
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-655-0888

For more information on the speaker, see the article from C&E News (ACS login required).

$5 ticket, RSVP by October 23rd (seating is limited):
cdemeo@siue.edu or WilkingJ@msx.umsl.edu

2016 STLACS Undergraduate Research Symposium

The 2016 ACS-St. Louis Section Undergraduate Research Symposium will be held Friday November 4th from 2:30-5:00 p.m. in the Science Laboratory West building at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. All undergraduate students participating in chemistry research are encouraged to present a poster. Being an ACS member is not required. Invitation Flyer 2016

Last year there were 18 participants from four area universities. The award recipients were Dallas Wright (SIUE, 2nd place), Andrew McLaughlin (SLU, 1st place), Katlyn Hausman (SIUE, 3rd place), Charlene Yu (SIUE, 4th place).

This year the symposium is earlier in the academic year. If you are sending students to the Midwestern Regional meeting in Manhattan, KS… send them here too! If you are sending students to the East Central Illinois Undergraduate Research Conference… send them here too! If your students aren’t ready for those venues, but you want to give them a taste of presenting so that they are motivated for spring showcases… send them!

This should be a relatively low stress (and low cost) opportunity to mingle with folks from a range of St. Louis area universities, find out what other folks are doing, and showcase student research. Posters from area Student Chapters are also invited – let’s get some connection between St. Louis ACS Student Members earlier in the school year!

2016 ACS symposium application forms are available at the STLACS website; requests or questions can be sent to the organizer, Susan Wiediger, swiedig@siue.edu.

Saint Louis Chemical Science & Technology Award – call for nominations

Nominate a member of your team for the Saint Louis Chemical Science & Technology Award. This award is presented to a chemist in the St. Louis area who has demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and scientific contribution. Criteria used to judge the award include technical proficiency, presentations, coaching/teamwork, and additional professional activities. The award will consist of a plaque, a $500 honorarium, and dinner for the awardee and a guest at the annual Recognition Night. The Due date is January 1 2017.

You can find all the details on eligibility, nominating a candidate, and recent winners right here. To submit a nomination, email the Chemical Science and Technology Award Coordinator David Rhee at david.wonjun.rhee@monsanto.com or phone 314.694.4874.

Ballot for 2017 STLACS officers

Chair – Elect:
Ben Barth, Assistant Professor, Organic Chemistry. Department of Basic Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Service to the Section: Secretary (2016); Treasurer, Younger Chemists Committee (2012-2013)

Secretary:
Henry Rohrs, Assistant Director, Washington University NIGMS Biomedical Mass Spectrometry Research Resource
Service to the Section: Organizer and Chair of Midwest MS Discussion Group (2008-present); Organizer and Chair Biological Mass Spectrometry Symposium – Great Lakes/Midwest Regional Meeting (2011)

Treasurer:
Jeff Cornelius, Charles Stewart Harding Mott Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Chair of Physical Science and Engineering Department, Principia College
Service to the Section: Education Committee Chair (2001-2006); Undergraduate Research Symposium Chair (2000, 2004); Secretary (2007-2009); Chair succession (2010-2012); Director (2013-2016)

Councilor:
Eric Bruton, Research Scientist, The Boeing Company
Saint Louis Section: Chair (2012), Younger Chemist Committee (YCC): executive member (2008), co-chair (2009), chair (2010). YCC won “Outstanding New Local Section YCC” (2008) and was nominated for “Outstanding Local Section YCC” (2009). Leadership Development Forum Chair since 2012, Publicity and Public Relations Chair (2016)

Alt Councilor:
Christopher D Spilling, Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, Interim Provost (through June 2017), University of Missouri–St Louis
Service to the St Louis Section: Midwest Regional Steering Committee rep (1994-2007); Alternate Councilor (1999-present); Saint Louis Award Symposium organizer (1994, 2001); Midwest Regional Meeting General Chair (2000); ACS Regional Meeting session chair (1992, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011).ACS honors: St. Louis Section, St. Louis Award (2009)

Director:
Jim O’Brien, Professor of Chemistry, University of Missouri St. Louis
Service to the Section: Program Committee Chair (1997-1999); co-sponsor of Career Day for High School students (2001-present); Midwest Award coordinator (2003-present); Co-chair of the Midwest Regional Meeting (2011).

Bill Doub, Retired, former US FDA/Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis
Service to the Section: Founding member and first Chairperson of the Greater Saint Louis Regional Discussion Group of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, High School Program Committee (1998); Chemical Bond photographer, assistant editor, and business manager (1998); Membership Chair (1998); Investment Committee (1998); Director (1996-1998, 2011-2012); St Louis Award Chair (1981, 1997); Treasurer (1993-1994, 1999-2001); Midwest Award Chair (1981); Alt Councilor (1992); Awards Committee Chair (1992); Program Committee Chair (1991, 1995); Chair succession (2008-2010).

Derek Redmore, Senior Patent Specialist, Moltech Corporation/Sion Power, Tucson, retired
Service to the Section: Saint Louis Section Midwest Awards chair (1971); Awards Committee chair (1972); Organic Topical Group Chair (1973)
Southern Arizona Section Chair succession (2000–2002); Treasurer (2004-2013)
ACS honors: Saint Louis Section Saint Louis Award (1982) Southern Arizona Section Service Award (2007, 2014)

Society for Applied Spectroscopy tour speaker

Speaker: Dr. Ian R. Lewis, Kaiser Optical Systems

Title: Shift Happens: Adventures with Raman Spectroscopy both Inside and Outside the Laboratory

Where: Buder Commons, Maryville University, 650 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141 ‪(map)‬

Buder Commons is #5 on the campus map. Parking available in any lot.

When: Thu Oct 6, 2016 7pm – 8:30pm

For more information contact: Eileen McClendon

The Boy Scout Chemistry Merit Badge clinic

is coming up on Saturday, October 22. Visit http://tinyurl.com/ChemMB2016 for more details or to register your scouts.

Board of Directors

St Louis Section–ACS Board of Directors meets the second Thursday of each month, usually at the Glen Echo Country Club (map and driving directions). Meetings are open to all members, and all are encouraged to attend. Elected officers and chairs of major committees vote on questions put to the Board; others in attendance have voice but no vote.

If you want to attend for dinner, please contact the section Chair at least a week in advance. Usual cost of the dinner is $21 ($12 for post-docs and unemployed members). Bar service and dessert are optional extras. Members wishing to become active in section activities are welcomed for their first dinner as guests of the section.

Date: Oct 13
Social hour, cash bar: 5:30 pm
Business meeting: 6:30 pm (suspended for dinner when served)
Future meetings: Nov 10, Dec 8

Saint Louis University

Seminars are generally on Fridays at 12 noon in Carlo Auditorium, Tegeler Hall, unless noted otherwise. Refreshments follow. For the most up-to-date information, refer to the department’s seminar page or contact Brent Znosko, znoskob@slu.edu.

University of Missouri–St Louis

Mondays at 4 pm in 451 Benton Hall, unless otherwise specified. Refreshments 15 minutes prior to seminar time. For timely information on visiting seminar speakers, contact the Chemistry Department, 314.516.5311, or visit the seminar schedule. The department has additional seminar series which are also accessible from this page.

Washington University

Seminars are in McMillen 311 at 4 pm unless otherwise noted. For information, consult the departmental events page. Related seminars, including endowed seminar series and the WU med school biochemistry series, are linked here as well.

The Chemical Bond is published at www.stlacs.org January through May and September through December by the St Louis Section–American Chemical Society. If you would like to receive email notification when each issue is posted, you can subscribe to our email list and join the “Chemical Bond reminders” group.

Correspondence, letters to the editor, etc., should be emailed to editor@stlacs.org or mailed ℅ St Louis Section–ACS, PO Box 410192, Saint Louis, MO 63141-0192 Copyright © 2015 American Chemical Society and the St Louis Section–ACS
Editor	Margaret Allen	editor@stlacs.org
Associate Editor	Eric Ressner	314.962.6415 editor@stlacs.org
Assistant Editor & Advertising Manager	Keith Stine	314.516.5346 advmgr@stlacs.org
Business Manager	Donna Friedman	314.513.4388 bizmgr@stlacs.org