B.S. (1961) Marshall University
M.S. (1965) Marshall University
Ph.D. (1970) Pennsylvania State University
Email: billups@rice.edu
Phone: (713) 348-5694
Office: George R. Brown Hall, E300D
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W. Edward Billups
Professor of Chemistry
Research Statement
Dr. Billups' research interests include the synthesis of new molecular systems of theoretical interest, fullerene chemistry, and the chemistry of free metal atoms. A major focus of his research during the past few years has been the development of a vacuum gas phase procedure for the synthesis of small ring cycloalkenes using reagents adsorbed on inert surfaces to effect elimination reactions. This approach allows the reactive species to be isolated at low temperature, and eliminates many of the undesired bimolecular side reactions that would normally be encountered in solution. Energetic compounds can thus be collected readily in cold traps for further chemical studies or spectral characterizat ion. X-ray structural parameters of unstable low melting compounds are secured in collaboration with Dr. Roland Boese in Essen, Germany. Representative molecules whose syntheses have been accomplished include methylenecyclopropene, spiropentadiene, spiroheptatriene, and oxaspiropentene.
A second area involves studies on the activation of carbon-hydrogen bonds by the first row transition metals. For example, photoexcited cobalt atoms have been found to insert into the carbon-hydrogen bonds of methane to yield CH3CoH. This same species can be microsynthesized and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy by cocondensing the metal with CH2N2, H2, and argon at 11 K. Photolysis of CH3CoH using 400 nm light leads to extrusion of the metal with the formation of the spectroscopically detectable Co(CH4) s-complex shown to have C3v symmetry. Photolysis of this complex using a UV source regenerates the insertion product CH3CoH. Deuterium labeling studies have shown that the methane rotates freely on the cobalt.
In the fullerene area, the high pressure, high temperature 3He labeling of the fullerenes C76, C78, and C84 has been investigated. Current studies involve the synthesis and characterization of the highly reduced fullerenes that are formed under the conditions of the Birch reduction. These studies will be carried out in collaboration with Professor Martin Saunders. Another study involves the elimination of dihydrogen from C60H2. Preliminary studies indicate that the reaction is first order with a barrier exceeding approximately 60 kcal/mole.
Selected Publications
A. Mukherjee, R. Combs, J. Chattopadhyay, D. W. Abmayr, P. S. Engel and W. E. Billups "Attachment of Nitrogen and Oxygen Centered Radicals to Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Salts." Chem. Mater., 20 (2008): 7339.
A. Mukherjee, L. B. Alemany, J. Chattopadhyay, S. Chakraborty, W. Guo, S. M. Yates and W. E. Billups "Dodecylated Large Fullerenes: An Unusual Class of Solids." Chem Mater., 20 (2008): 5513.
B. Glover, K. Whites, H. Hong, A. Mukerjee, W. E. Billups "Effective Electrical Conductivity of Functional Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Fluids." Synth. Met., 156 (2008): 506.
W. E. Billups "Fullerenes: Principles and Applications." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008).
J. Chattopadhyay, C. Hamilton, A. Mukherjee, S. Chakraborty, W. Guo, A. R. Barron, and W. E. Billups "Graphite Epoxide." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008): 5414.
S. Chakraborty, W. Guo, R. H. Hauge, and W. E. Billups "Reductive Alkylation of Fluorinated Graphite." Chem. Mater., 20 (2008): 3134.
P. S. Engel, W. E. Billups, D. W. Abmayr, K. Tsvaygboym, and R. Wang "The Reaction of Carbon Nanotubes with Organic Peroxides." J. Phys. Chem. C, 112 (2008): 695-700.
S. Ramesh, H. Shan, E. Haroz, W.E. Billups, R. Hauge, W.W. Adams, R.E. Smalley "Diameter Selection of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Through Programmable Solvation in Binary Sulfonic Acid Mixtures." J. Phys. Chem.C, 111 (2007): 17827.
X. Shi, B. Sitharaman, Q.P. PHam, F. Liang, K. Wu, W.E. Billups, L.J. Wilson and A.G. Mikos "Fabrication of Porous Ultra-Short Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering." Biomaterials, 28 (2007): 4078-4090.
W.E. Billups "Fullerenes: Principles and Applications." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129 (2007).
Presentations
"Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes." ChemOnTubes 2008 International Meeting, Zaragoza, Spain. (April 6, 2008) With F. Liang, J. Chattopadhyay, S. Chakraborty, J. Beach and A. Mukherjee.
Presenter. "Synthesis of Water-soluble PEGylated Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes." Gordon Research Conference on Nanostructure Fabrication, Tilton, New Hampshire. (July 16-21, 2006)
Speaker. "Uses of Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Salts in Syntheses." American Chemical Society, San Francisco, California. (September 2006)
Speaker. "Uses of Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Salts in Organic Syntheses." Electrochemical Society, Denver, Colorado. (May 2006)
Awards
2003 Award of the American Chemical Society, Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society. (2003).
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