Catalysis

Work in this area is geared toward the development of more efficient, greener, and safer means of directing organic transformations via metal mediation. To this end we are developing systems for the catalyzed cycloaddition of aziridines, lewis-acid assisted ring closing metathesis, and the Meerwein-Schmidt-Ponndorf-Verley-Oppenauer (MSPVO) reduction-oxidation manifold.

Drug Delivery and Hybrid Structures

We are committed to the development of vehicles to safely and effectively administer therapeutic agents and to pursue new and improved disease detection technologies. To this end, we are currently pursuing research into ROMP-based polymer nanoparticles, polymer-caged liposomes, ROMP-based DNA detection, and fundamental DNA interactions.

Metal-Organic Frameworks and Porous Organic Materials

Research in the Hupp/Nguyen groups involves both developing strategies for rationally constructing MOFs with structural and chemical diversity via post-synthesis modification and incorporation of metalloporphyrin catalysts into MOFs.

Graphene-Oxide

In an effort to develop new and interesting materials with improved properties and to understand the chemistry occurring the these interfaces, we are currently pursuing research in the following areas: silicon surface chemistry, polymer-inorganic nanocomposites, grapheme nanocomposites, and modeling environmental interfaces.