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Faculty


Joseph W. Lauher, DISTINGUISHED TEACHING Professor

Joseph W. Lauher

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.

scientific image

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.