Herman T. Briscoe Professor, Chemistry Department

Professor Peters received his B.S. degree (cum laude) in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1958 and his Ph.D. degree in analytical chemistry from Harvard University in 1962. He joined the Indiana University faculty in 1962 and became the Briscoe Professor in 1975.

Professor Peters was the Students’ Visiting Lecturers Trust Fund Lecturer at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in 1975 and a Visiting Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science in 1980. In 2006 he was recognized for 50-year membership in the American Chemical Society, and in 2007 he was elected Fellow of The Electrochemical Society. Professor Peters received a Distinguished Service Award from Indiana University in 2005 and the W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service at Indiana University in 2006.

He has received 11 teaching awards from Indiana University. Professor Peters is coauthor of five undergraduate textbooks on analytical chemistry. He has served the Chemistry Department as Associate Chairman, Graduate Adviser, Director of General Chemistry, Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, and Adviser for graduate students in the Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT) Program.

Research

Our research centers on the use of electroanalytical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic methods to investigate and elucidate the kinetics and mechanisms of reduction and oxidation processes involving organic and organometallic species at various electrodes in nonaqueous solvents. For these purposes, we utilize computer-controlled data acquisition procedures, and we use digital simulation to model the dynamics of electron-transfer and accompanying chemical reactions. In addition, we are employing electrocatalysis, with chemically modified electrodes and with homogeneously generated mediators, for the electrosynthesis of organic and organometallic species. Among the compounds whose electrochemical behavior is of particular interest are alkyl halides, aryl halides, ethylenic halides, freons, acetylenic halides, acyl halides, esters, organic sulfides and disulfides, ketones, anhydrides, allenes, and cumulenes.

To characterize organic electrode processes, we use a variety of electroanalytical techniques: cyclic voltammetry, hydrodynamic voltammetry with rotating disk and ring–disk electrodes, thin-layer electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, preparative-scale controlled-potential coulometry, and electrochemistry–ESR spectroscopy. Electrolysis products are separated, identified, and quantitated with the aid of GC, HPLC, GC–MS, GC–HRMS, LC–MS, and FTIR and NMR spectrometry. In many instances, starting materials as well as suspected electrolysis products must be synthesized and characterized.

Examples of research projects ongoing in our laboratory include the following: (1) use of electrogenerated cobalt(I) and nickel(I) complexes for the catalytic reduction and dehalogenation of a variety of insecticides, pesticides, freons, and other environmentally deleterious compounds; (2) development of electroanalytical strategies for the determination of halogenated contaminants (e.g., chloroform) in drinking water; (3) electrochemical catalysis in room-temperature ionic liquids; (4) preparation and applications of silica nanobeads with tethered electroactive transition-metal complexes; (5) synthesis, characterization, and applications of new Schiff-base complexes bearing electroactive transition-metal sites; (6) investigation of the electroreduction and coupling of bromomethylated derivatives of 2H-chromen-2-ones (coumarins); (7) reactions of electrogenerated organocobalt(III) species with nitric oxide; (8) preparation and use of semiconductor electrodes to measure redox potentials of metalloproteins; (9) electroorganic syntheses involving intramolecular cyclization and ring-expansion based on the reduction of halogenated compounds at novel electrodes such as copper, silver, and palladium-coated copper.

Publications

"Catalytic reduction of ethyl chloroacetate by cobalt(I) salophen electrogenerated at vitreous carbon cathodes," with A. Moad, L. J. Klein, J. A. Karty, and J. P. Reilly, J. Electroanal. Chem., 531, 163 (2002).

"Cathodic behavior of aromatic polythioethers: Sulfur-containing molecular asterisks as redox mediators," with N. Gueguen-Simonet, J. Simonet, and L. J. Klein, J. Electrochem. Soc., 149, E389 (2002).

"Electroreductive intramolecular cyclization of a bromo propargyloxy ester catalyzed by nickel(I) tetramethylcyclam electrogenerated at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with A. P. Esteves, D. M. Goken, L. J. Klein, M. A. Lemos, and M. J. Medeiros, J. Org. Chem., 68, 1024 (2003).

"Formation of aldehydes and ketones via reduction of alkyl monohalides by electrogenerated nickel(I) salen in dimethylformamide in the presence of water, oxygen, and light," with P. Vanalabhpatana, Tetrahedron Lett., 44, 3245 (2003).

"Metal-ligand charge-transfer promoted photo-electronic Bergman cyclization of copper metalloenediynes: Photochemical DNA cleavage via C-4 ¢ H-atom abstraction," with P. J. Benites, R. C. Holmberg, D. S. Rawat, B. J. Kraft, L. J. Klein, H. H. Thorp, and J. M. Zaleski, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 125, 6434 (2003).

"Direct electrochemical reduction of a bromo propargyloxy ester at vitreous carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with A. P. Esteves, D. M. Goken, L. J. Klein, and M. J. Medeiros, J. Electroanal. Chem., 560, 161 (2003).

"Electrochemical conversion of primary alkyl halides to alkenes at platinum cathodes," with J. Simonet, J. Electrochem. Soc., 151, D7 (2004).

"Alkylation of [2,2 ' -([2,2 ' -bipyridine]-6,6 ' -diyl)bis[phenolato]- N , N ' ,O , O ' ]nickel(II) during catalytic reduction of 1-iodooctane," with D. M. Goken, J. A. Karty, and J. P. Reilly, J. Electroanal. Chem., 564, 123 (2004).

"Catalytic reduction of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) by cobalt(I) salen electrogenerated at vitreous carbon cathodes," with J. D. Persinger, J. L. Hayes, L. J. Klein, J. A. Karty, and J. P. Reilly, J. Electroanal. Chem., 568, 157 (2004).

"Stoichiometric reduction of primary alkyl monohalides with electrogenerated nickel(I) salen: Formation of aldehydes," with P. Vanalabhpatana and J. A. Karty, J. Electroanal. Chem., 580, 300 (2005).

"Catalytic reduction of 1,6-dihalohexanes by nickel(I) salen electrogenerated at glassy carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with P. Vanalabhpatana, J. Electrochem. Soc., 152, E222 (2005).

"Catalytic reduction of 1-bromooctane and a , a ' -dibromoxylenes by electrogenerated cobalt(I) salen: Formation of aldehydes," with P. Vanalabhpatana, J. Electrochem. Soc., 152, E337 (2005).

"Electroreductive radical cyclization of ethyl 2-bromo-3-allyloxy and -3-(propargyl-oxy)propanoates catalyzed by (tetramethylcyclam)nickel(I) electrogenerated at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with A. P. Esteves, D. M. Goken, L. J. Klein, L. F. M. Leite, and M. J. Medeiros, Eur. J. Org. Chem. , 4852 (2005).

"Electrochemical reduction of 1-halooctanes at platinized platinum electrodes in dimethylformamide containing tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate," with N. L. Wolf and M. S. Mubarak, J. Electrochem. Soc., 153, E1 (2006).

"Catalytic reduction and intramolecular cyclization of haloalkynes in the presence of nickel(I) salen electrogenerated at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with M. A. Ischay and M. S. Mubarak, J. Org. Chem., 71, 623 (2006).

"Electrochemical reduction of 4,4 ' -(2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) and 4,4 ' -(2,2-dichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDD) at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with M. S. Mubarak and P. C. Gach, Electroanalysis, 18, 417 (2006).

"Alkyl group incorporation into nickel salen during controlled-potential electrolyses in the presence of alkyl halides," with D. M. Goken, M. A. Ischay, J. W. Tomaszewski, J. A. Karty, J. P. Reilly, and M. S. Mubarak, J. Electrochem. Soc., 153, E71 (2006).

"Stoichiometric reduction of secondary alkyl monohalides by electrogenerated nickel(I) salen in the presence of oxygen and water: Prospects for the formation of ketones," with P. Vanalabhpatana, J. Electroanal. Chem., 593, 34 (2006).

"Catalytic reduction of 4,4'-(2,2,2-trichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(chlorobenzene) (DDT) with cobalt(I) salen electrogenerated at vitreous carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with P. C. Gach, M. S. Mubarak, and J. A. Karty, J. Electrochem. Soc. , 154 , F1 (2007).

"Catalytic reduction of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113a) by cobalt(I) salen electrogenerated at vitreous carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with G. W. Bishop and J. A. Karty, J. Electrochem. Soc., 154, F65 (2007).

"Catalytic reduction of 1-iodooctane by nickel(I) salen electrogenerated at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide: Effects of added proton donors and a mechanism involving both metal- and ligand-centered one-electron reduction of nickel(II) salen," with P. W. Raess, M. S. Mubarak, M. A. Ischay, M. P. Foley, T. B. Jennermann, and K. Raghavachari, J. Electroanal. Chem., 603, 124 (2007).

"Nickel(I) salen-catalyzed reduction of 1-haloalkyl-2-oxocycloalkanecarboxylates: Three- and four-carbon ring expansions," with M. S. Mubarak and W. E. Barker IV, J. Electrochem. Soc., 154, F205 (2007).

"Catalytic reduction of phenyl-conjugated acetylenic halides by nickel(I) salen: Cyclization versus coupling," with M. S. Mubarak, T. B. Jennermann, and M. A. Ischay, Eur. J. Org. Chem., 5346 (2007).

"Electrosynthesis of 4-methylcoumarin via cobalt(I)-catalyzed reduction of 2-acetylphenyl 2-chloroacetate or 2-acetylphenyl 2,2-dichloroacetate," with P. Du, M. S. Mubarak, and J. A. Karty, J. Electrochem. Soc., 154, F231 (2007).

"Catalytic reduction of hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene by cobalt(I) salen electrogenerated at vitreous carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide," with P. C. Gach and J. A. Karty, J. Electroanal. Chem., 612, 22 (2008).

Awards

• Ulysses G. Weatherly Distinguished Teaching Award, 1969
• Students Visiting Lecturers Trust Fund Lectureship at University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 1975
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellow, 1980
• College of Arts and Sciences–Graduate School Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award, 1984
• 24th McGregory Lecture in Chemistry, Colgate University, 1986
• Chemical Manufacturers Association National Catalyst Award, 1988
• Second Surface Science Lecture, University of Cincinnati, 1989
• ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1990
• Alpha Lambda Delta (Indiana University Chapter) Favorite Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching, 1995 and 2000
• Indiana University Teaching Excellence Recognition Award, 1997, 1999, and 2000
• James Flack Norris Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Chemistry, presented by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, 2001
• Brown Derby Award, presented to an Outstanding and Popular Faculty Member by the Indiana iversity School of Professional Journalists, 2002
• Henry B. Linford Award for Distinguished Teaching, presented by The Electrochemical Society, 2002
• Trustees Teaching Award, from the Indiana University Board of Trustees, 2003, 2005, and 2007
• Chairman of the Organic and Biological Electrochemistry Division of The Electrochemical Society, 2003–2005
• Distinguished Service Award, Indiana University, 2005
• W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service, Indiana University, 2006
• 50-Year Membership in the American Chemical Society, 2006
• Election as Fellow of The Electrochemical Society, 2007

Highlights

Dr. Peters receives the 2006 W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service to IU
Dennis Peters has received the 2006 W.George Pinnel Award for Outstanding Service to Indiana University. >> Full Story