Areas of Interest
Organic photochemistry, reaction mechanisms, protropic and other forms of catalysis of photoreactions, chemical reactions of exciplexes, aromatic photosubstitution reactions. Our research originated the concept of homogeneous catalysis in photochemistry, established the first cases of photochemical general acid and base catalysis, documented the first examples of electron hole transfer catalysis, and established new cases of and mechanisms for photochemical Smiles rearrangements.
Education
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, Northwestern University, 1969
B.S. Chemistry, Hamline University, 1964
Faculty Appointments
1995-present Full Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney
1995-1997 Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Nebraska at Kearney
1994-1995 Program Director for Special Projects, Division of Undergraduate Education, NSF
1992-1995 Provost and Dean of the College, Professor of Chemistry, Washington College, Chestertown, MD
1990-1992 Program Director, Undergraduate Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
Division, NSF
1989 Visiting Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder
1981-1982 Visiting Professor, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
1974-1975 Research Associate, State University of New York at Buffalo
1968-1992 Department of Chemistry, Grinnell College: Professor of Chemistry (19791992), Associate Professor (197379), Assistant Professor (196873); Chair,197578; 198485; 1989-90.
Recent Publications
- "Temperature Dependence of Regioselectivity in Nucleophilic Photosubstitution of 4-Nitroanisole. The Activation Energy Criterion for Regioselectivity,” G. G. W., Hanan Danial,* and Danielle Policarpio,* J. Org. Chem., 2010, 75, 7726-33.
- "The Element Effect and Nucleophilicity in Nucleophilic Aromatic Photosubstitution (SN2Ar*). Local Atom Effects as Mechanistic Probes of Very Fast Reactions," G. G. W., Toby R. Brown,* Travis A. Babcock,* and Kandra M. Johnson,* J. Org. Chem., 2008, 73, 1925-34.
- "The Element Effect in Nucleophilic Aromatic Photosubstitution (SN2Ar*)," G. G. W., Kandra M. Johnson,* and Travis A. Babcock,* Organic Letters, 2007, 9, 2803-2806.
- "New Nitronate Sigma Complexes and the Mechanism of Nucleophilic Aromatic Photosubstitution para to a Nitro Group," G. G. W. and Kandra M. Johnson,* Organic Letters, 2006, 8, 1451-1454.
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