Al Baumstark

B.A. (1970): University of California, Riverside
A.M. (1972) : Harvard University
Ph.D. (1974) : Harvard University
Postdoctoral Fellowship (1974-1976) : Harvard University

Organic synthesis, reaction mechanism, spectroscopy, methodology development.

Research in my group has centered on the chemistry of oxygen-containing compounds with an emphasis on that of organic peroxides.  We have focused on the mechanisms of oxygen-atom transfer reactions of unusual hydroperoxides and peroxides, especially under mild conditions.  We have extended the frontiers in oxygen chemistry by synthesis and characterization of exotic, novel organic peroxides.  These investigationshave provided insights into the limiting factors that control reactivity and selectivity.

We have developed the chemistry of cyclic and acyclic alpha-azo hydroperoxides and 3-hydroperoxy-1,2-dioxolanes.  These unusual hydroperoxides are of high reactivity and selectivity in electrophilic oxygen-atom transfer reactions.  We have discovered new synthetic routes to these reactive compounds.  Our work on the synthesis and thermolysis of 1,2-dioxetanes (4-membered cyclic peroxides) was extremely productive.  We have studied the effects of substituents on the activation parameters of thermolysis.  We have measured the chemiexcitation yields for a large number of compounds.  These studies have provided insights into the mechanism of excited state formation in chemiluminescent and bioluminescent processes.

We have developed ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopic methods for the investigation of structure in oxygen-containing compounds. ¹⁷O NMR studies were successful in predicting: (a) torsion angle relationships; (b) in-plane van der Waals repulsions; and (c) hydrogen-bonding phenomena.  The results of our studies were useful in applying ¹⁷O NMR methods to structural and labeling studies.

We have investigated the oxygen-atom transfer chemistry of dioxiranes, 3-membered cyclic peroxides.  Our research on electrophilic epoxidation led to postulation of a mechanism with a spiro transition state, which has become the accepted explanation.  Selected investigations have centered on epoxidation of electron-poor systems, computational modeling of epoxidation, and heteroatom oxidation.  Recently we have studied epoxidation of cyclic dienes by dimethyldioxirane using DFT calculations to model the epoxidations.

We are in the process of closing the research lab. Current efforts are focused on management of the GSU GA - AL. LSAMP (minority STEM) program and assistance with the GAANN (Ph. D. minority student) program.

Honors, Awards, etc.

1. Junior Faculty Teaching Award, College of Arts and Sciences, GSU, 1982
2. Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (1981-86)
3. Golden Key National Honor Society, GSU Distinguished Research Award (1987-88)
4. Advances in Oxygenated Processes, Alfons L. Baumstark, Series Editor, JAI Press Inc. Greenwich, Connecticut; 1988 - 1996; Vol I-IV.
5. Editorial Board - Heterocyclic Communications, 2003-present.
6. Editorial Board - Colonial Academic Alliance Undergraduate Research Journal, 2011-present.