Chemistry

location_on Location: Burlington B

(Links to papers / posters are embargoed until 4/7)

All times in Eastern Time Zone

• assignment_ind Anderson, A. “ Developing a Structural Analog of Impomoeassin F ”
  Impomoeassin F is a compound derived from South American morning glory’s resin. This resin has been used for medical purposes for centuries. The resin found in these plants has been found to have anti-cancer growth properties, specifically targeting ovarian cancer cells. However, the family of impomoeassins do not have the ability to distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous cells. The purpose of the research I am a part of is to develop a structural analog through a cost-effective and successful 10-step synthetic pathway. Impomoeassin F has successfully been derived from the 10-step synthetic pathway a few times but in very low yield. My role in the research lab is to test and develop successful, high-yield beginning steps to the synthetic pathway. I have currently worked through steps 1 and 2, to produce products 1 and 2 in high yield with little impurities. These steps will be discussed in great detail to establish their importance in the synthetic pathway.
• assignment_ind Morgan, W. “ Hydrosetting – The Future of Bioplastic Production ”
  Plastic pollution is a major issue contributing to climate change and causing other ecological problems on our planet. Plastic use continues to increase and is expected to double again in the next 20 years. It is estimated that around every year about 330 million tons of plastics are globally produced. Bioplastics are the future and solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Bioplastics are more versatile and cost efficient to produce. More research and development needs to take place in order for bioplastics to overtake petrochemical plastics in the plastic industry. A method that was recently discovered by scientists was hydrosetting, which creates a bioplastic from cellulose and water at room temperature. Hopefully, this newly created process of hydrosetting can solve the plastic pollution crisis and change the state of the Earth, so that inhabitants can live on the planet for as long of a time as humanly possible.