Abstract

Electrochemistry is a powerful tool that can be used to selectively reverse the polarity of known functional groups, solve challenging synthetic problems, and probe the mechanism of reactive intermediates in new ways. Interestingly, the connection between electrochemistry and synthesis also works well in the opposite direction. Organic synthesis is a powerful tool that can be used to selectively functionalize electrodes and solve challenging analytical problems in new ways. In the seminar to be presented, the interplay between electrochemistry and organic synthesis will be examined in order to shed light on how a combination of the technologies provides both new methods for the construction of organic molecules and new approaches for the evaluation of small molecule – receptor interactions.

Professor Kevin D. Moeller has been on the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis for 26 years. His group has published over 120 papers and made over 110 presentations at scientific meetings. Professor Moeller has presented over 145 invited seminars and lecturers. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the Organic and Biological Electrochemistry Division of The Electrochemical Society, was named Washington University’s Professor of the Year in 2001, and has won the St. Louis Award from the ACS for his contributions to organic chemistry.