Chemistry Faculty 

Robert Harris, III

Education
Boston University , Boston MA
Post-Doctoral Faculty Fellow 2004-2006

Boston College , Chestnut Hill, MA
Research Fellow 2004

Boston College , Chestnut Hill, MA
Ph. D. (Chemistry) August, 2003

Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA
M. Sc. (Chemistry) May, 1994

Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA
B. Sc. (Chemistry) May, 1991

Courses Taught at MCLA

CCST 105:The Chemistry of C.S.I. The television show "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and its spin offs have made forensic science a "hot" topic with the general public. By first introducing and then understanding basic chemical principles, this course will illustrate the role of chemistry in solving crimes. (Typical enrollment is 35)

CH201 and CH202: Organic Chemistry. These courses aims to initiate you into the world of organic chemistry. Rather than the memorization of facts, the course will focus on the mechanistic understanding of chemical reactions. This will enable you to analytically think about chemical reactions and understand what is taking place during a reaction. (Typical enrollment is 20)

CH440: Advanced Organic Chemistry. Students enrolled in this course will be introduced to a variety of advanced topics in Organic Chemistry. These topics include FMO theory, Stereoelectronic effects, Conformational analysis, Aldol Reactions and the Total synthesis of natural products. (Typical enrollment is 6)

Contact
Bowman Hall 303 A1 |413-662-5451 | robert.harris@mcla.edu

Research Interests:

For over 30 years, the use of C₂-symmetric P, P or N, N ligands has dominated the field of asymmetric catalysis. Recently, the development of C₁ symmetric modular P, N ligands has introduced a new class of ligands to the field. Often times these C₁ ligands have shown higher selectivity than their C₂ counterpoints. The chiral nature of the C₁ Using this approach, We are interested in creating a new class of nonsymmetrical norbornane-based P,N ligands for use in asymmetric catalysis including: Rh-catalyzed hydrogenations, Pd-catalyzed allylic substitutions and Cu-catalyzed cyclopropanation of olefins

.

Service to MCLA Community
Member of Academic Technology Advisory Group (ATAG)
Member of Curriculum Committee
Member of the Student Affairs Committee
Member of Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) discussion group

Massachusetts Science Fair Region I judge
Massachusetts Middle School Science Fair Region I Judge

Awards
Junior Faculty Member of the Year 2008
Hardman Grant Award 2008
Keynote Speaker for Region I Science Fair 2008
MCLA Faculty Research Award  2007
MCLA Curriculum Improvement Award 2007

Publications:
"Photolithographic Patterning of Ring-Opening Metathesis Catalysts on Silicon" Harris, R. F.; Ricci, M. J.; Farrer, R. A. Praino, J.; Miller, S. J.; Saleh, B. E. A.; Teich, M. C.; Fourkas, J. T. Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 29-41.
"A Polymeric and Fluorescent Gel for Combinatorial Screening of Catalysts." Harris, R. F.; Nation, A. J.; Copeland, G. T.; Miller, S. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2000, 122, 11270 - 11271.
"Direct Determination of trans-Octadecenoic Acid in Diet Composites Using Silver Ion High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Capillary Gas Chromatography." Phillips, K. M.; Lugogo, R.; Harris, R. F.; Stewart, K. K. J. Food Lipids, 1997, 4, 173-188.

"Simplified Gravimetric Determination of Total Fat in Mixed Food Composites After Chloroform/Methanol Extraction." Phillips, K. M.; Tarragó, M. T.; Grove, T. M.; Gruen, I.; Lugogo, R.; Harris, R. F.; Stewart, K. K. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 1997, 74, 137-142.

Presentations:

"The Design and Synthesis of Non-C2 Symmetric Ligands for Metal Mediated Asymmetric Catalysis" Cook, C and  Harris, R.F. NCUR conference Salisbury MD 2008

 "Toward Novel Biomimetic Transition Catalysts Using Small Polypeptide Supporting Ligands" Armstrong, W. H.; Howard, R. J.; Black, M.; Harris, R. F., III; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Vaughn, J. W. ACS meeting 2001 Boston, MA.

"The Use of Peptides in the Synthesis of (m-oxo) bis(m-carboxylato) Diiron (III) complexes" Harris, R. F.; Vaughn, J. W.; Armstrong, W. H. Boston College Graduate Research Symposium1998.

"Direct Determination of trans-Octadecenoic Acid in Diet Composites Using Silver Ion High Performance Liquid Chromatography." Harris, R.. F.; Phillips, K. M.; Lugogo,R.; Stewart, K. K American Oil Chemists Society Meeting 1996

"The Synthesis of Mixed b-Diketonate-Alkoxy Zirconium Derivatives for Applications in the Fabrication of PZT Thin Films." Harris, R. F.; Deshu, S. B.; Hanson, B. E. Southeastern Regional ACS meeting 1993.