Jeff Byers
Philip Battell/Sarah Stewart Professor of Chemistry & Biochemist
Email: byers@middlebury.edu
Phone: work802.443.5207
Office Hours: Spring 2013: Mon through Fri: 11:00AM - 12:00PM, and by appointment
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Jeff Byers is a synthetic organic chemist, having received a B.S. degree from the University of Rochester in 1979 and a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in 1984, where he worked in the group of Thomas A. Spencer . He held a postdoctoral fellowship in the group of Gary Keck at the University of Utah before joining the Middlebury faculty in 1986.
His teaching interests lie predominately in General Chemistry (CHEM 0103, CHEM 0104) and Introductory and Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM 0241, CHEM 0242 and CHEM 0442). He has also taught Freshman Seminars entitled "Fraud, Foolishness, and Serendipity", and "Smart Energy Choices" in recent years. He has also been experimenting in the use of social networking sites such as Facebook as tools for collaborative learning in chemistry courses.
Current Research Interests lie in the application of transition metal templated radical intermediates to organic synthesis.
Hobbies and Interests included hiking (especially peak-bagging), skiing (nordic and alpine), running and piano.
He authors a blog on trailrunning in Addison County called "The Middlebury Trailrunner"
Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
CHEM 0103 - General Chemistry I ▲
General Chemistry I
Major topics will include atomic theory and atomic structure; chemical bonding; stoichiometry; introduction to chemical thermodynamics. States of matter; solutions and nuclear chemistry. Laboratory work deals with testing of theories by various quantitative methods. Students with strong secondary school preparation are encouraged to consult the department chair for permission to elect CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 in place of this course. CHEM 0103 is also an appropriate course for a student with little or no prior preparation in chemistry who would like to learn about basic chemical principles while fulfilling the SCI or DED distribution requirement. 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc.
Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2013, Fall 2013
CHEM 0104 - General Chemistry II
General Chemistry II
Major topics include chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and coordination chemistry. Lab work includes inorganic synthesis, qualitative analysis, and quantitative analysis in kinetics, acid-base and redox chemistry. (CHEM 0103 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc.
Fall 2011
CHEM 0107 - Advanced General Chemistry
Advanced General Chemistry
This course is a one-semester alternative to one year of general chemistry (CHEM 0103 and CHEM 0104). It is open to all students who have received a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Chemistry. Students who have two or more years of high school chemistry without AP credit may enroll with permission of the instructor. Topics will be drawn from the traditional general chemistry curriculum, but discussed in greater detail with a more thorough mathematical treatment. Special emphasis will be placed on chemical bonding, coordination chemistry, and real world research in chemistry. (AP Chemistry or equivalent.) 3 hrs. lect., 3 hrs. lab, 1 hr dis. (Approval required)
Fall 2009
CHEM 0241 - Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry I
This course is an introduction to the structure and reactivity of organic molecules. Topics covered include chemical nomenclature, bonding, structure, acid-base relationships, mechanistically simple reactions, and theoretical aspects of structure determination. Laboratory exercises include hands-on introductions to techniques such as distillation, crystallization, chromatography, polarimetry, and modern spectroscopic techniques such as NMR and IR. (Students must have received a grade of B- or better in CHEM 0104 or 0107)
Fall 2009, Winter 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Winter 2013
CHEM 0242 - Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry II
A continuation of Organic Chemistry I. Topics covered include mechanistically complex reactions, organic synthesis, and application of molecular orbital theory to reactions. Laboratory exercises focus on synthetic techniques and structure elucidation of complex unknowns. (CHEM 0241) 3 hrs. lect., 4 hrs. lab, 1 hr. disc.
Spring 2009, Spring 2011
CHEM 0442 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
Advanced Organic Chemistry
An extensive treatment of the relationship between structure and reactivity in organic systems. Topics will include conformational analysis, kinetics, orbital symmetry, bonding theory, reaction mechanisms, selected rearrangement reactions, and advanced special topics. (CHEM 0242; CHEM 0351 or CHEM 0352 or CHEM 0353 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect.
Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2013
CHEM 0500 - Independent Study ▲ ▹
Independent Study Project
Individual study for qualified students. (Approval required)
Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014
CHEM 0700 - Senior Research ▲ ▹
Senior Research
In this course students complete individual projects involving laboratory research on a topic chosen by the student and a faculty advisor. Prior to registering for CHEM 0700, a student must have discussed and agreed upon a project topic with a faculty member in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (Approval required; open only to seniors)
Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014
CHEM 0701 - Senior Thesis ▲ ▹
Senior Thesis
Students who have initiated research projects in CHEM 0400 and who plan to complete a senior thesis should register for CHEM 0701. Students are required to write a thesis, give a public presentation, and defend their thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members. The final grade will be determined by the department. Attendance at all Chemistry and Biochemistry Department seminars is expected. (CHEM 0400; approval required)
Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014
FYSE 1199 - Smart Energy Choices
Smart Energy Choices
As readers of the popular press, we are deluged with information about the strengths and limitations of many energy sources. Using the tools of quantitative thermodynamics, we will compare and contrast fossil fuels and nuclear energy, as well as alternative energy sources such as plant-derived biofuels, hydrogen (in combustion and fuel cells), solar power and wind power. We will also examine the economic and environmental consequences of each of these energy sources. It is strongly required that students have a full year of high school chemistry and physics. 3 hrs. sem/3 hrs. lab
Fall 2012
Recent Publications
“Social Networking Sites for Online Collaboration in Chemistry Courses: A Facebook Experiment” Byers, J. H. The Chemical Educator, 2011 (online journal).
“Radical Aromatic Substitution with Benzene Chromiumtricarbonyl” Byers, J. H.*; Neale, N. R.*; Alexander, J. B.* Gangemi, S. P.* Tetrahedron Lett. 2007, 48, 7903-7905.
“The Radical Addition of Dimethyl 2-Ethynylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate to Electron-Rich Olefins” Byers, J. H.; Goff, P. H.*; Janson, N. J.*; Mazzotta, M. G.*; Swigor, J. E. Synthetic Commun. 2007, 37, 1865-1871.
“Radical Additions to (n6-Styrene) Chromium Tricarbonyl” Byers, J. H.; Janson, N. J.* Organic Lett. 2006, 8, 3453.
“Thiocarbonyldiimidazole” Byers, J.H. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, L. A. Paquette, Ed. Wiley, 2006.
“Radical Reactions Mediated by Cyclobutadieneiron Tricarbonyl” Byers, J. H.; Sontum, S. F.; Dimitrova, T. S.*; Huque, S.*; Zhang, Y.*; Zegarelli, B. M.*; Jasinski, J. P; Butcher, R. P. Organometallics 2006, 25, 3787.
"Tandem Radical-Electrophilic Annulations to Pyrrole" Byers, J. H.; DeWitt, A.*; Nasveschuk, C. G.*; Swigor, J. E. Tetrahedron Lett., 2004, 45, 6587-6590.
"A One-step Radical Synthesis of Pyrrol-2-Acetic Acids" Byers, J. H.; Duff, M. P.*; Woo, G. W.*, Tetrahedron Lett., 2003, 44, 6853-6855 .
"Syntheses of 3-Acylindoles via the Alkylation of the Dianion of 3-Acetylindole" Byers, J. H.; Zhang, Y.* Heterocycles, 2002, 57, 1293-1297.
Recent Major Grants
$225,000 from the NSF-RUI for "Radical Reactions of Arene-Metal Complexes" 2009
$200,000 from NSF-MRI for “Acquisition of an LC/MS System” 2005
$24,900 from Vermont-EPSCOR for “Purchase of a solvent purification system” 1/05
$5000 from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Central Research in support of an undergraduate summer research assistant, 4/04
$300,000 from the NSF-RUI for “Transition Metal Templated Radical Reactions” 7/03-6/06.
$8900 from Vermont-EPSCOR for “Radical Chemistry of Cyclobutadiene Iron Tricarbonyl” 6/03-8/03.
