Thomas W. Nalli - Research

last update January 2023

Chemisty 461 Syllabus

Chemistry 430 Syllabus       Former Research Students


My research group is currently primarily focused on determining rate constants for reactions of phenyl radicals using a new approach involving tracking product formation by F-19 NMR.. More specifically, the visible photolysis of 4-fluorophenylazoisobutronitrile is used to form 4-fluorophenyl radicals which are then reacted competitively with the molecule of interest and an iodoarene. The relative yields of the competitvely formed products are plotted vs reactant concentration ratios to give linear relationships, the slopes of which reveal the desired rate constants. The method has been used successfully to determine H-abstraction rate constants for two common solvents (THF, MeCN) and a series of fatty acid esters.We are currently attempting to determine the H-abstraction rate constant with water and are also starting to look at other biomolecules, such as nucleotides.


Current Research Students
Cameron Scheithauer - Senior Chemistry major has been working on the project for the last three semesters. Pictured below with the poster she presented at last year's Ramaley Celebration. Cameron will also be presenting a poster on her research at ACS Indianapolis this April.
Autumn Barloon - Senior Biology Major started on the project last Fall Semester (2022). Pictured below with her Mom at the Seven Rivers Research Conference in La Crosse, WI last semester.