With the support of the Organic Dynamics Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, Professor Edward L. Clennan, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wyoming, studies the oxidation of organosulfur compounds with molecular oxygen. Professor Clennan examines the reactions of dialkylsulfides with singlet oxygen, in which both physical quenching and chemical reaction are observed, elucidating their mechanisms by observing reactive intermediates such as O,S-sulfenyl sulfinates and thiopersulfoxides. The photooxidations of thiolanes and 1,3-dithianes are also explored, focusing on the formation and reactions of hydroperoxy sulfonium ylides. In order both to investigate the fundamental influence of environment on organic sulfide oxidations and to develop new synthetic methods, Professor Clennan examines the electron transfer oxidation of 1,3-dithianes and the molecular oxidation of sulfides in zeolite microenvironments. Sulfur-containing organic compounds and their oxidation are matters of considerable importance in a wide variety of biological, atmospheric, and industrial processes. Professor Edward L. Clennan, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wyoming, with the support of the Organic Dynamics Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, studies the reactions of sulfur-containing molecules with oxygen. Through analysis of the products of these reactions and of the intermediate compounds formed en route to these products, Professor Clennan sheds light on the fundamental molecular events responsible for their formation. In addition to the provision of a more general understanding of such oxidation reactions, these studies are leading to the development of new mechanistic tools to explore light-assisted oxidation reactions and the discovery of new and useful oxidizing environments and new methods for the synthesis of important materials.
