Department of ChemistryClare Muhoro
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Associate Professor Organic Chemistry Office: 514G Smith Phone: (410)704-4827 E-mail: cmuhoro@towson.edu |
| Education | B.Sc. (1993) St. Lawrence University, magna cum laude Ph.D. (1999) Yale University |
| Teaching |
General Chemistry II (CHEM 111) Essentials of Organic Chemistry (CHEM 330) Organic Chemistry I,II (CHEM 331/332) |
| Research |
Novel Syntheses and Applications of Phosphorus- and Boron-Containing Bifunctional Ligands We utilize highly efficient homogeneous catalysis to synthesize phosphanyl(organyl)borane compounds, and apply these molecules as ligands in the synthesis of transition metal complexes. These unique ligands can be applied as functional ligands e.g., as nucleophile binding agents, Lewis acid cocatalysts in polymerizations reactions or as monomers in the synthesis of uncommon Lewis Acid-Base polymers. Undergraduate researchers conduct this work exclusively under inert-atmosphere on a Schlenk line and in a glove-box. The students characterize the compounds by proton, carbon, boron and phosphorus NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Mechanisms of Decomposition of Organic Pesticides in Aqueous Environments The aquatic fate of organic pesticides depends on numerous parameters that are unique to a given aquatic system such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen content, metal ion content, and salinity. Our group is interested in investigating the pathways of decomposition of organic pesticides under specific conditions. The research involves travel to study sites, located in tropical regions, to characterize the aquatic environments in which organic pesticides are found. The field work is followed by laboratory studies involving kinetic studies on pesticide degradation. Undergraduate students measure reaction rates using proton NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. |
| Selected Publications |
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Faculty & Staff
Department of Chemistry
Smith Hall 543
Towson University
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252