MIGUEL A. GARCIA-GARIBAY 
Assistant Professor; Q.F.B., Químico, Universidad Michoacana,
México; PhD, University of British Columbia; Postdoctoral
Fellow, Columbia University.
RESEARCH
Organic solid state chemistry has enormous technological importance with
new applications proposed at increasing rates. Our group brings a physical organic point of view to problems of the organic solid state and material science with an emphasis on their chemistry. Our studies include systems
such as molecular crystals, zeolites, polymers and amorphous glasses, some of which are capable of highly stereoselective and stereospecific transformations. We aim to uncover aspects of the reaction medium, how it relates to the restricted mobility of th
e reactant, and whether this facilitates or
impedes specific chemical transformations. We compare our results to
those observed in gas phase and liquid media. With crystalline compounds we address detailed mechanistic questions to develop structure-reactivity correlations based on X-ray diffraction data. With heterogeneous surfaces such as silicas and microcrystalli
ne zeolites, we try to understand the
structural basis of their catalytic action. We accomplish most of our goals
with detailed kinetic observations, spectroscopic measurements,
stereochemical probes and product analyses on carefully designed
synthetic targets.
Our studies include thermal and photochemical reactions that involve
highly reactive intermediates such as free radicals, radical pairs, biradicals, carbenes, and excited states. By choosing species that react with little
or no activation energies we address reactivity factors directly mediated
by the environment. One of our goals is to uncover the factors that extend
or limit the lifetime of a reactive species which we analyze in terms of
current mechanistic and theoretical models. Another goal is the design of solid systems that can be used for desirable transformations or that can have
chemical resistance for demanding technological applications.
Keywords
:
Physical Organic Chemistry: solid state organic chemistry;
photochemistry; photophysics and solid state NMR; crystal engineering;
phase transitions and solid state kinetics; absolute asymmetric
synthesis; zeolites; glasses; carbenes; biradicals and radical
pairs.
[ Department*
Faculty*
Current Organic Research*
Organic Research Interests
]
Last
Revision: 08/23/95 // burns@chem.ucla.edu