Ram Mohan CV

Professional Positions held

2002-Present Associate Professor of Chemistry, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
1998-2002 Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
1996-1998 Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
1994-1996 Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Coker College, Hartsville, SC
1992-1994 Post-doctoral Research Associate (Dr. Robert M. Coates), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1987-1992 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Awards & Honors

• Nominated by the US National Research Council and Selected by CERC (Chairmen of the European Research Councils' Chemistry Committee) to attend a workshop on use of Lanthanides in organic synthesis in Belgium (Feburary 2006).
• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Young Observer Award: (selected as one of eight from the USA to participate as a young observer in the IUPAC General Assembly and Congress), Ottawa, Canada. (August 2003)
• The University of Maryland Baltimore County 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for 2001 (Awarded by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.) (Award amount: $60,000) (November 2001)

External Grants

• American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Undergraduate Faculty Sabbatical (UFS) Grant ($45,502). “Environment-Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Ionic Liquids” (September 2005-May 2006).
• Research Corporation Grant ($57,000) for my proposal entitled “Use of Ionic Liquids as Environment-friendly and Novel Solvents for Organic Synthesis”(May 2004-2006)
• National Science Foundation Research Grant ($205,300) for my proposal entitled “Applications of Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis” (January 2004-2007)
• National Science Foundation Research Grant ($124,000) for my proposal entitled “Applications of Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis” (September 2000-2003)
• Faculty Travel Award. ($500) Division of Organic Chemistry, American Chemical Society, to attend the 36th National Organic Symposium (June 1999)
• American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund (Type G) Grant ($25,000) for my proposal entitled “Involvement of Oxabicyclobutonium Ions in Reactions of Oxiranylcarbinyl Substrates: A Mechanistic Investigation” (December 1998)
• Faculty Travel Award. ($500) Division of Organic Chemistry, American Chemical Society, to attend the 35th National Organic Symposium (June 1997)
• NSF Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Grant to participate in three workshops (at the University of Rhode Island) on NMR offered by NMR concepts (Summer 1995)

Invited Lectures at National or International Meetings

• CERC3 Young Chemists Workshop “Lanthanide-mediated organic reactions” (Feb 8-11), Knokke,, Belgium.
• Great Lakes Regional American Chemical Society Meeting, Peoria, IL (October 2004). Invited Key Note Speaker at Green Chemistry Symposium.
• The 228th ACS National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA. Invited Speaker to Special Symposium on Ionic Liquids (August 2004).
• IUPAC International Conference on Biodiversity and Natural Products: Chemistry and Medical Applications (ICOB-4 and ISCNP-24). (January 2004), New Delhi, India. (Invited to Green Chemistry Symposium).

Invited Talks (Academia & Industry)

• Natural Science Division Colloquium, Illinois Wesleyan University (October 1996) Chemistry of Epoxides: From Epoxy Resins to Cancer.
• Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society (Illinois Chapter), Illinois State University (September 1997) Chemistry of Epoxides: From Epoxy Resins to Cancer.
• Universit Paul Sabatier (Heterochimie Fondamentale Et Applique), Toulouse, France (March 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Universit de Provence, Faculte des Sciences-St-Jerome, Marseille, France. (March 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Facultes Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur Belgium. (March 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University College London, United Kingdom. (March 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA (November 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India (December 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Chandigarh, India (December 2001). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD (April 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL (April 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom (July 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom (July 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom (July 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Swansea, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom (July 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Abbott Laboratories (Process Division), North Park, Chicago, IL. (July 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Frobourg, Switzerland (Nov 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (Nov 2002). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Groningen, Netherlands (Mar 2003). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, University of Rennes, France (Mar 2003). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, Depaul University, Chicago, IL (Sep 2003). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry and CNRS, Universit Joseph-Fourier, Grenoble, France (March 2004). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry and CNRS, Universit de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France (March 2004). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds. Universit Paul Sabatier and CNRS (Heterochimie Fondamentale Et Applique), Toulouse, France (March 2004).
• Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds. Department of Chemistry, Wright State University, Ohio (October 2004). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds.
• Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland (November 2004). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Departament de Qumica. Universitat Autnoma de Barcelona (November 2004). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Process Technology Development Division Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior, India. (December 2005. Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India (December 2005. Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India (December 2005. Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, Millikin University, Ohio (April 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, Monash University, Australia. (October 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, University of NewCastle, Australia (October 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia (November 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. (November 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds
• Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland, New Zealand. (November 2005). Environmentally Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds

Professional Publications
Publications from IWU (all co-authors are IWU undergraduates)

2006

(41) Anzalone, P. W.; Mohan, R. S. Synthesis of Homoallyl Ethers via Allylation of Acetals and Aldehydes in Ionic Liquids. American Chemical Society Symposium Series 2006 (in press).

(40) Chowdhury, S.; Scott, J. L.; Mohan, R. S. Reactivity of ionic liquids. Tetrahedron 2006 (article in press).

(39) Olivero, S.; Perriot, R.; Duach, E.; Baru, A. R.; Bell, E. D.; Mohan, R. S.

An Environment-friendly Synthesis of Functionalized Indanes Using Electrochemical Cyclization of o-halo substituted homoallyl ethers and esters. Synlett 2006, 2021-2026 (in colloaboration with Professor Dunach, Universit de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France).

(38) Bailey, A. D.; Cherney, S. M.; Anderson, E. A.; Ernat, J. J., Mohan, R. S. A Convenient Method For in situ Generation of I2 Using CuSO4-NaI and Its Applications to The Deprotection of Acetals, Etherifications and Iodolactonizations. Synlett 2006 (article in press).

(37) Ukachukwu, V. C.; Mohan, R. S.; Whalen, D. L. Kinetic deuterium isotope effects on the reactions of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)oxirane in water solutions. ARKIVOC 2006, 3, 48-58.

2005

(36) Lacey, J. C.; Anzalone, P. A.; Duncan, C. M.; Hackert, M. J.; Mohan, R. S. A Study of Epoxyolefin Cyclizations Using Bismuth Trifluoromethanesulfonate and other metal triflates. Tetrahedron Lett. 2005 , 46, 8507-8511.

(35) Anderson, E. D.; Ernat, J. J.; Nguyen, M. P.; Palma, A. C.; Mohan, R. S. Environment Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds. An Efficient Method for Carbonyl-Ene Reactions Catalyzed by Bismuth Triflate Tetrahedron Letters 2005, 46, 7747-7750.

(34) Anzalone, P. A.; Mohan, R. S. TMS Triflate Catalyzed One Pot Method for the Conversion of Aldehydes to Homoallyl Ethers in an Ionic Liquid. Synthesis 2005, 16, 2661-63

(33) Baru, A. R.; Mohan, R. S. The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 6.Selective Reduction in Organic Chemistry. Reduction of Aldehydes in the Presence of Esters Using Sodium Borohydride. J. Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 1674-1675

(32) Anzalone, P. A.; Baru, A. R.; Danielson, E. M.; Hayes, P.D.; Nguyen, M. P.; Panico, A. F.; Smith, R. C.; Mohan, R. S. Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis. A One-Pot Synthesis of Homoallyl Ethers and Homoallyl Acetates from Aldehydes Catalyzed by Bismuth Triflate. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 2091-2096.

2004

(31) Aggen, D. A.; Arnold, J. N.; Hayes, P. D.; Smoter, N. M.; Mohan, R. S. Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis. Bismuth Nitrate Catalyzed Chemoselective Synthesis of Acylals from Aromatic Aldehydes. Tetrahedron 2004, 60, 3675-3679

(30) Nguyen, M. P.; Arnold, J. N.; Peterson, K. E.; Mohan, R. S. Environment Friendly Organic Synthesis Using Bismuth Compounds. Bismuth Triflate Catalyzed Synthesis of Substituted 3,4-Dihydro-2H-1-benzopyrans. Tetrahedron Lett. 2004, 45, 9369-9371.

2003

(29) Leonard. N.M.; Zerth, H. M.; Mohan, R. S. Synthesis of Homoallyl Ethers via Allylation of Acetals in Ionic Liquids Catalyzed by Trimethylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonate. Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 55-57

(28) Stephens, J. R.; Butler, P. L.; Clow, C. H.; Oswald, M. C.; Smith, R. C.; Mohan, R. S. Bismuth Triflate: An Efficient Catalyst for the Formation and Deprotection of Tetrahydropyranyl Ethers. Euro Journal of Org. Chem. 2003 European J. Org. Chem. 2003, 19, 3827-

(27) Peterson, K. E.; Smith, R. C.; Mohan, R. S. Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis. Synthesis of Resorcinarenes Using Bismuth Triflate. Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 7723-7725.

(26) Arnold, J. N.; Hayes, P. D.; Kohaus, R. L.; Mohan, R. S. Bismuth Compounds in Organic Synthesis. Deprotection of Ketoximes Using Bismuth bromide-bismuth triflate. Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 105-107.

2002

(25) Applications of Bismuth(III) compounds in organic synthesis. Leonard, N. M.; Wieland, L. C.; Mohan, R. S. Tetrahedron. 2002, 58, 8373-8397.

(24) Leonard, N. M.; Oswald, M. C.; Freiberg, D. A.; Nattier, B. A.; Smith, R. C.; Mohan, R. S.  A Simple and Versatile Method for the Synthesis of Acetals from Aldehydes and Ketones Using Bismuth Triflate.   J. Org. Chem.  2002, 67, 5202-5707.

(23) Wieland, L. C.; Zerth, H. M.; Mohan, R. S.  Bismuth Triflate Catalyzed Allylation of Acetals: A Simple and Mild Method for Synthesis of Homoallyl Ethers.  Tetrahedron Lett. 2002, 43, 4597-4600.  

(22) Carrigan, M. D.; Sarapa, D.; Smith, R. C.; Wieland, L. C.; Mohan, R. S.  A Simple and Efficient Chemoselective Method for the Catalytic Deprotection of Acetals and Ketals Using Bismuth Triflate.  J. Org. Chem.  2002, 67, 1027

2001

(21) Carrigan, M. D.; Freiberg, D. A.; Smith, R. C.; Zerth, H. M.; Mohan, R. S.  A Simple and Practical Method for Large-Scale Acetylation of Alcohols and Diols Using Bismuth Triflate.  Synthesis 2001, 2091. 

(20) Carrigan, M. D.; Eash, K. J.; Oswald, M. C.; Mohan, R. S.  An Efficient Method for the Chemoselective Synthesis of Acylals from Aromatic Aldehydes Using Bismuth Triflate. Tetrahedron Lett.  2001, 42, 8135

(19) Bhatia, K. A.; Eash, K. J.; Leonard, N. M.; Oswald, M. C.; Mohan, R. S.  A Facile and Efficient Method for Rearrangement of Aryl-substituted Epoxides to Aldehydes and Ketones using Bismuth Triflate.  Tetrahedron Lett.  2001, 42, 8129

(18) Nattier, B. A.; Eash, K. J.; Mohan, R. S.  Deprotection of Ketoximes Using Bismuth(III) Nitrate Pentahydrate. Synthesis  2001, 7, 1010.  

(17) Eash, K. J.; Pulia, M. S.; Wieland, L. C.; Mohan, R. S.  A Simple Chemoselective Method for The Deprotection of Acyclic Acetals and Ketals Using Bismuth Nitrate Pentahydrate. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 65. 8399.

(16) Cabay, M. E.; Ettlie, B. J.; Tuite, A. J.; Welday, K. A.; Mohan, R. S. The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 5. Stereochemistry of E2 Elimination.  Elimination of cis and trans-2-methylcyclohexyl tosylate. J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 79.

(15) Centko, R. S.; Mohan, R. S The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 4. Epoxidation of p-methoxy-trans-_-methylstyrene.  An Exercise In 1H NMR and 13C NMR Spectroscopy For Sophomore Organic Laboratories. J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 77.

2000

(14) Monk, K. A.; Sarapa, D.; Mohan, R. S.  Bismuth(III) Acetate: A New Catalyst For Preparation of Azlactones Via The Erlenmeyer Azlactone Synthesis.  Synthetic Communications, 2000, 30, 3167.

(13) Anderson, A. M.; Blazek, J. M.; Garg, P.; Payne, B. J.; Mohan, R. S.  Bismuth(III) Oxide Perchlorate Promoted Rearrangement of Epoxides To Aldehydes and Ketones.. Tetrahedron Lett.  2000, 41, 1527.

(12) Mohan, R. S.; Gavardinas, K.; Kyere, S.; Whalen, D. L.  Spontaneous Hydrolysis reactions of cis- and trans-_-Methyl-4-Methoxystyrene Oxides (Anethole Oxides): Buildup of trans-Anethole oxide as an Intermediate in the Spontaneous Reaction of cis-Anethole Oxide.  J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 1407.

(11) Anderson, A. M.; Mitchell, S. M.; Mohan, R. S.  Isolation of Curcumin From Turmeric, J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 359.

(10) Sgariglia. E. A.; Schopp, R.; Gavardinas, K.; Mohan, R. S.  The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 3.  Boron-trifluoride Catalyzed Rearrangement of cis and trans-stilbene oxides.  An Exercise in 1H NMR Spectroscopy For Sophomore Organic Laboratories. J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 79.

1999

(9) Tymonko, S. A.; Nattier, B. A.; Mohan, R. S.  Oxidation of Benzoins to Benzils Using Bismuth(III) Nitrate-Copper(II) Acetate.  Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 7657.

(8) Monk, K. A.; Mohan, R. S.  The Hofmann Rearrangement Using Household Bleach: Synthesis of 3-Nitroaniline. J. Chem. Educ.  1999, 76, 1717.

(7) Shadwick, S. R.; Mohan. R. S.  The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 2  Selectivity in Alcohol Oxidation.  An Exercise In 1H NMR Spectroscopy For Sophomore Organic Laboratories. J. Chem. Educ.  1999, 76, 1121.

(6) McElveen, S. R., Gavardinas, K.; Stamberger, J. A.; Mohan, R. S.   The Discovery-Oriented Approach To Organic Chemistry. 1. Nitration of Unknown Organic Compounds.  An Exercise in 1H NMR and 13C NMR Spectroscopy For Sophomore Organic Laboratories.. J. Chem. Educ.  1999, 76, 535.

Professional Publications (Graduate School and Post doctoral work)

(5) Mohan, R. S.; Yee, K. N.;  Coates, R. M.;  Ren, Y,-Y.; Stamenkovic, P.; Mendez, I.; West, C. A.  Biosynthesis of Cyclic Diterpene Hydrocarbons in Rice Cell Suspensions: Conversion of 9,10-syn-Labda-8(17), 13-dienyl Diphosphate to 9b-Pimara-7,15-diene and Stemar-13-ene. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics., 1996, 330,  33.

(4) Shipley, D. S.; Ross, A. M.; Mohan, R. S.; Whalen, D. L.; Sayer, J. M.; Serv, P. M.; Jerina, D. M. Solvolysis of 4-Nitrophenoxyethylene Oxides.  J. Org. Chem., 1994, 59, 977.

(3) Mohan, R. S.; Whalen, D.L.  Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of cis- and trans-Anethole     Oxides: Substituent Effects on cis/trans Hydration Ratios in the Acid-catalyzed     Hydrolysis of b-Substituted Styrene Oxides.  J. Org. Chem, 1993, 58, 2663.

(2) Blumenstein,J.J.; Ukachukwu, V. C.; Mohan, R. S., Whalen, D. L.  Effects of para Substituents on the Mechanisms of Solvolysis of Styrene Oxides. J. Org. Chem.1993,58, 924.

(1) Nashed, N. T.; Balani, S. K.; Loncharich,  R. L.; Sayer, J. M.; Shipley, D. Y.; Mohan, R. S.; Whalen, D. L.; Jerina, D. M.  Solvolysis Mechanisms of K-Region Arene Oxides. Substituent Effects on Reactions of Benz[a]anthracene-5,6-Oxide. J. Am. Chem. Soc.  1991, 113, 3910.