Faculty
Joseph W. Lauher, DISTINGUISHED TEACHING Professor
B.A. Illinois Wesleyan University, 1970
Ph.D. Northwestern University, 1974
Research Associate, Cornell University, 1974-1975
759 Chemistry
Phone: (631) 632-7925
Email: Joseph.Lauher@stonybrook.edu
Structural Chemistry
Structural chemistry is the basis of our research program. Inorganic or organic, molecular
or solid state, experimental or theoretical, all aspects of structural chemistry are
of interest. We employ the techniques of synthesis, computer design and modeling,
and X-ray crystallography in an integrated fashion.
One extraordinarily difficult problem in contemporary chemistry involves the design
of molecular solids. By this we mean that one has a sufficient understanding of a
molecular system such that accurate predictions of the three-dimensional crystal structure
of a molecule can be made. With this ability one can choose molecules that will form
molecular solids in accordance with a particular design. Since the various physical
and chemical properties of molecular solids depend directly upon the crystal structure,
this ability to design particular structures is of great importance when one contemplates
applications of molecular solids. These applications are based upon the chemical,
electrical, optical, and materials properties of solids, each of these properties
being structure dependent.
Our approach to this difficult problem has been to combine a rigorous symmetry analysis
of intermolecular interactions with a synthetic program that yields new molecules
that can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds in a predictable and reliable manner.
Once new molecules are designed and synthesized the technique of X-ray crystallography
is used to characterize the new structures and to verify the design.
Crystallographic studies of novel inorganic and organometallic systems are also an
important part of our research program. In the past we have studied transition metal
cluster compounds. In a collaborative effort with Lutz Gade in Wurzburg, Germany a
series of new tripodal amidoligands and their transition metal complexes.
Finally, a major portion of our effort in recent years has been directed toward the
development of new graphic software for the computer display of molecular structures.
The Chem-Ray graphic program allows the operator to create highly realistic images
of molecular models on the computer screen. A close examination of these images can
give one a much better understanding of structural chemistry.
Awards/Honors
- Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1990
Publications
Lauher, J. W. "A Versatile Molecular Trap Built from Hydrogen-Bonded Tiles." Science2011, 333(6041), 415-416.
Li, Z., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Weak Interactions Dominating the Supramolecular
Self-Assembly in a Salt: A Designed Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Topochemical
Polymerization of a Terminal Aryldiacetylene." Journal of the American Chemical Society2009, 131(2), 634-643.
Wilhelm, C., Boyd, S. A., Chawda, S., Fowler, F. W., Goroff, N. S., Halada, G. P.,
Grey, C. P., Lauher, J. W., Luo, L., Martin, C. D., Parise, J. B., Tarabrella, C.,
and Webb, J. A. "Pressure-induced polymerization of diiodobutadiyne in assembled cocrystals."
Journal of the American Chemical Society2008, 130(13), 4415-4420.
Sun, L., Geng, X., Geney, R., Li, Y., Simmerling, C., Li, Z., Lauher, J. W., Xia,
S., Horwitz, S. B., Veith, J. M., Pera, P., Bernacki, R. J., and Ojima, I. "Design,
Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel C14-C3 ' BzN-Linked Macrocyclic Taxoids."
Journal of Organic Chemistry2008, 73(24), 9584-9593.
Plummer, J. M., Weitgenant, J. A., Noll, B. C., Lauher, J. W., Wiest, O., and Helquist,
P. "Synthesis, structure, and metal complexation behavior of a new type of functionalized
chiral phenanthroline derivative." Journal of Organic Chemistry2008, 73(10), 3911-3914.
Luo, L., Wilhelm, C., Sun, A., Grey, C. P., Lauher, J. W., and Goroff, N. S. "Poly(diiododiacetylene):
Preparation, isolation, and full characterization of a very simple poly(diacetylene)."
Journal of the American Chemical Society2008, 130(24), 7702-7709.
Lauher, J. W., Fowler, F. W., and Goroff, N. S. "Single-crystal-to-single-crystal
topochemical polymerizations by design." Accounts of Chemical Research2008, 41(9), 1215-1229.
Sun, A. W., Lauher, J. W., and Goroff, N. S. "Preparation of poly(diiododiacetylene),
an ordered conjugated polymer of carbon and iodine." Science2006, 312(5776), 1030-1034.
Lim, Y. H., Li, T. D., Chen, P. L., Schreiber, P., Kuznetsova, L., Carroll, P. J.,
Lauher, J. W., and Sieburth, S. M. "Asymmetry by electrophilic rearrangement of symmetric
2-pyridone photodimers." Organic Letters2005, 7(24), 5413-5415.
Goroff, N. S., Curtis, S. M., Webb, J. A., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Designed
cocrystals based on the pyridine-iodoalkyne halogen bond." Organic Letters2005, 7(10), 1891-1893.
Curtis, S. M., Le, N., Nguyen, T., Xi, O. Y., Tran, T., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher,
J. W. "What have we learned about topochemical diacetylene polymerizations?" Supramolecular Chemistry2005, 17(1-2), 31-36.
Curtis, S. M., Le, N., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "A rational approach to the
preparation of polydipyridyldiacetylenes: An exercise in crystal design." Crystal Growth & Design2005, 5(6), 2313-2321.
Xi, O. Y., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Single-crystal-to-single-crystal topochemical
polymerizations of a terminal diacetylene: Two remarkable transformations give the
same conjugated polymer." Journal of the American Chemical Society2003, 125(41), 12400-12401.
Liu, Y. J., Lam, A. H. W., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "The squaramides. A new
family of host molecules for crystal engineering." Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals2002, 389(39-46.
Hoang, T., Lauher, J. W., and Fowler, F. W. "The topochemical 1,16-polymerization
of a triene." Journal of the American Chemical Society2002, 124(36), 10656-10657.
Nguyen, T. L., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Commensurate and incommensurate hydrogen
bonds. An exercise in crystal engineering." Journal of the American Chemical Society2001, 123(44), 11057-11064.
Kane, J. J., Nguyen, T., Xiao, J., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "The host guest
co-crystal approach to supramolecular structure." Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals2001, 356(449-458.
Gade, L. H., Renner, P., Memmler, H., Fecher, F., Galka, C. H., Laubender, M., Radojevic,
S., McPartlin, M., and Lauher, J. W. "C-3-chiral tripodal amido complexes." Chemistry-a European Journal2001, 7(12), 2563-2580.
Xiao, J., Yang, M., Lauher, J. W., and Fowler, F. W. "A supramolecular solution to
a long-standing problem: The 1,6-polymerization of a triacetylene." Angewandte Chemie-International Edition2000, 39(12), 2132-+.
Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "A rational design of molecular materials." Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry2000, 13(12), 850-857.
Schauer, C. L., Matwey, E., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Silver coordination
and hydrogen bonds: A study of competing forces." Materials Research Bulletin1998, 213-223.
Nguyen, T. L., Scott, A., Dinkelmeyer, B., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Design
of molecular solids: utility of the hydroxyl functionality as a predictable design
element." New Journal of Chemistry1998, 22(2), 129-135.
Nguyen, T. L., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Strategies for the Preparation of
Layered Polydiacetylenes." Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology Section a-Molecular
Crystals and Liquid Crystals1998, 313(253-258. Pii 757842305
Dinkelmeyer, B., Lauher, J. W., and Fowler, F. W. "Designed 2-Substituted Butadiene
Structures." Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology Section a-Molecular
Crystals and Liquid Crystals1998, 313(259-264. Pii 757842306
Schauer, C. L., Matwey, E., Fowler, F. W., and Lauher, J. W. "Controlled spacing of
metal atoms via ligand hydrogen bonds." Journal of the American Chemical Society1997, 119(42), 10245-10246.
