ACD/Labs Scientific Scholar of the Year Award - Undergraduate Stream - 2000
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We are pleased to announce the results of the ACD/Labs Scholar of the Year 2000 Award, Ungraduate Stream. The work presented was of the highest scientific standard and we are honored to reproduce the award winners' work through this web page. The three winners, in order, were (1) Ian C. Stewart of the the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI; (2) Michael T. Forrester of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL; and (3) Jennifer L. Stockdill of Virginia Polytechnic in Blacksburg, VA. Honorable mention is given to Gloria V. Lopez, of the Universidad de la Republica, in Montevideo, Uruguay. We thank everybody for their participation. You are all winners! We encourage students to enter the next ACD/Scholar of the Year Award.
We had thought it was difficult ranking the Graduate entries, but the Undergraduate entries proved to be just as difficult. There is some fine work being done by students new to the fields of chemistry and biochemistry! Overall, the judges were impressed with the high level of entries. On the whole, students were investigating highly topical research questions, and some went to great lengths to present their articles as they would appear in their journal of choice. Thank you to all entrants and their supervisors!
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First place - Ian C. Stewart - Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Supervisor: Prof. Brian P. Coppola.
Mechanism and Synthetic Applications of 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions |
| This well-written report described not only the work done, work-in-progress, and proposed work by this student, but also placed it in context with other work done in this group and over the past few decades on cycloaddition reactions. The author's work explores mechanisms and regioselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions involved in pyrrole production. Nice work, Ian! |
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Second place - Michael T. Forrester, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Supervisor: Prof. Richard B. Silverman.
Mild and Selective Sodium Azide Mediated Cleavage of p-Nitrobenzoic Esters |
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This report on the development of a new method for the cleavage of p-nitrobenzoates, obtained from the Mitsunobu reaction, was very informative. The importance of preventing beta-elimination upon the hydroylsis of the p-nitrobenzoate is crucial to maintaining the stereochemical integrity of the synthetic scheme. Thanks for your efforts, Michael! |
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Third place - Jennifer L. Stockdill, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Supervisor: Prof. Felicia A. Etzkorn.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors as Potential Anti-Cancer Compounds and Novel Synthetic Inhibitor |
| Compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase enzyme can be important in treatment of cancer tumors. This report deals with their design, synthesis, and characterization. The author details the careful design of a synthetic inhibitor containing appropriate hydrophobic and active regions. Way to go, Jennifer! |
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Honorable mention: Gloria V. López, Departamento de
Química Orgánica, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Supervisor: Dr. Enrique Pandolfi.
Total Synthesis of Marchantinquinone |
| Total Synthesis of Marchantinquinone In 1991 some researchers isolated a macrocycle with antioxidant and antiplatelet activity from an extract of plants. This report, on the first ever synthesis of that compound, marchantinquinone, describes how this was done. Fine work, Gloria! |
Judges Panel
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