Chemistry students deliver presentations at ACS National Meeting and Exposition

Two students from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry had the honor of attending the 254th American Chemical Society’s National Meeting and Exposition, held in August in Washington, D.C., and delivering poster presentations on their own research.

Brett Baker, a junior from Buffalo and graduate of Williamsville High School South, and Brianne Weichbrodt, a senior from Newark, N.Y., and graduate of Newark High School, joined the bi-annual meeting that’s recognized as the largest gathering of scientific minds from around the world, drawing more than 10,000 attendees and participants.

Brianne Weichbrodt, with her poster, “Synthesis and    Characterization of Sulfur-Boron Frustrated Lewis Pairs.”

Both students are majoring in Chemistry and were accompanied by Dr. Allan Jay Cardenas, their research advisor. The theme of the fall meeting was “Chemistry’s Impact in the Global Economy.”

Mr. Baker’s poster, “Synthesis and Characterization of Anilinium Based Ionic Liquids,” chronicled his ongoing effort to relate minute structural changes in molecule/ion pair to its physical properties such as melting point and viscosity. The science and technology of ionic liquid is a growing field, and Baker hopes to add his contribution to this exciting field.

Research into a particular type of chemical system, Frustrated Lewis Pairs, or FLPs, was examined in Ms. Weichbrodt’s poster, “Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfur-Boron Frustrated Lewis Pairs.” It featured her addition to the family of FLPs. Weichbrodt synthesized and characterized a new molecule that can be classified as a FLP, and successfully made a new example of this FLP. She is now in the process of establishing its reactivity and application.

At the meeting, both students and Dr. Cardenas explored exhibitions of new chemical products and instruments and attended a career fair and various talks. Subtopics included energy, chemical waste, feeding the world, vaccination, clean water, environment, global collaboration and preventing the use of chemicals in war.

The Fredonia contingent acknowledges support from the Raffaele Borriello, M.D. and Suzanne T. Casden Chemistry Department Endowment, the Office of Student Creative Activity and Research, and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for supporting their participation on the fall meeting.

The American Chemical Society, founded in 1876, is a self-governed individual membership organization of members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry. The society provides a broad range of opportunities for peer interaction and career development, regardless of professional or scientific interests.