Supported by the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Program, Prof. George Olah is examining how molecules holding positive or negative charges react. Olah, of the University of Southern California, is a world authority on this topic, and has developed many methods for generating, stabilizing and examining these charged molecules. Olah examines the unstable intermediates by using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a method that measures the unique magnetic properties of individual atoms in a molecule. The work has impact in a number of ways, including gaining fundamental knowledge about the shapes, stabilities and reactivities of charged molecules. This information finds application in both academic and industrial laboratory settings. The work related to positively charged intermediates will examine some new chemistry on the preparation and properties of onium ions, oxonium ylides, halonium ions, and diazonium ions. Additional studies of carbanions and dianions will also be carried out. New studies of the preparation and properties of organomagnesium compounds will be initiated.
