Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry
Miller 112
(859)-622-5030
Research Summary
Heterocycles represent an important class of organic molecules due to their applications in electronic materials, energy storage, catalysis, biological activity, and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) modeling. Dr. Tice’s research primarily focuses upon the synthesis and reactivity of heterocycles and their fused-ring aromatic analogs for incorporation into electronic devices. Both organic polymers and discreet monomers have been successfully incorporated into devices such as field-effect transistors (FETs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. These materials holds a distinct advantage over classical inorganic semiconductors in that they are relatively inexpensive, light weight, can be produced without a stringent, “clean room” setting, and can function on flexible substrates (so called “plastic electronics”). Furthermore, by incorporating transition metal centers into these materials, one can blend the robust and diverse synthetic possibilities of traditional organic materials with the novel structural and electronic properties of transition metal chemistry.
While there has been some investigation into the organometallic and material chemistry of these heterocycles, this still represents a rich area of research, which has the potential for transition metal-mediated coupling, polymerization, and electrochemical studies. Research from the Tice group focuses on applications in next generation electronics, alternative or “Green” energy, and development of high-value materials from the emerging biorefinery sector. Students engaging in this research will learn hands-on, synthetic techniques in organic and organometallic chemistry as well as applications in solution and solid-state spectroscopy and characterization including NMR, IR, MS, UV-Vis, and X-ray diffractometry.
Dr. Tice is also involved with research in the newly formed Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT). If you are interested in working on Biofuel technology with CRAFT and Dr. Tice, please contact him. Below is a description of the two projects that the Tice group is actively working on:
Project 1: Cellulose to Carbohydrates: The goals of this project will be to convert various sources of Biomass (e.g., switchgrass, corn stover, wood industry waste) into free carbohydrates for heterotrophic Algae to Biodiesel production. The project will gauge the feasibility of utilizing distinct sources of Biomass and the most efficient methodologies of sugar formation. This process will include mechanical and/or chemical pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and analysis of the free carbohydrates and byproducts.
Project 2: Utilization of Furans as Renewable Building Blocks: The goals of this project will be to convert furans and other Biomass byproducts into value added chemicals and materials for the Biorefinery and Renewable Energy sector. This process will explore the chemical transformations of common saccharification byproducts such, as furfural, into precursors of renewable building blocks for plastics, polymers, and advanced electronics applications. Development of fundamental synthetic methodologies for these furans will aid in making the Biorefinery sector profitable as well as complimenting renewable energy production now underway.
Selected Publications
Snyder, C. A.; Tice, N. C.; Maddox, J. B.; Parkin, S; Daniel, A. W.; Thomas, J. M. Synthesis, Structure, and Theoretical Calculations of 1H-3,7-Difurylcyclopenta[3,4-d]pyridazine. Heterocycles 2011, 83, 1275-1290.
Snyder, C. A.; Tice, N. C.; Maddox, J. B.; Emberton, E. D.; Vanover, E. S.; Hinson, D. F.; Jackson, D. C.; Synthesis, Structure, and Electronic Study of Some Group VII Furoyl Substituted Complexes. J. Org. Met. Chem. 2011, 696, 2220-2227.
Snyder, C. A.; Tice, N. C.; Sriramula, P. G.; Neathery, J. L.; Mobley, J. K.; Phillips, C. L.; Preston, A. Z.; Strain, J. M.; Vanover, E. S.; Starling, M. P.; Sahi, N. V.; Bunnell, K. R. Synthesis of New Substituted 5,6-fused Ring Pyridazines for Advanced Electronic Applications. Synthetic Communications 2011, 41, 1357-1369.
Tice, N. C.; Peak S. M.; Parkin, S. The Unexpected Formation and Structure of 4,6-Dimethylthieno[3,4-c] thiophene-1(3H)-thione. Heterocycles 2010, 81, 2229-2237.
Tice, N. C.; Peak S. M.; Parkin, S. Synthesis and Structure of 5,7-Dimethylthieno[3,4-d]pyridazine. Heterocycles 2010, 81, 1631-1639.
Bozell, J. J.; Tice, N. C.; Sanyal, N.; Park, S.; Elder, T. 2009, Self-Assembling Bolaforms from Biorefinery Polysaccharides, In: Polysaccharide Materials: Performance by Design, edited by Kevin J. Edgar, Thomas Heinze, and Charles M. Buchanan, The American Chemical Society and Oxford University Press, pp. 243-260.
Snyder, C. A.; Bell, A. J.; Karambelkar, V. V.; Scott, J. B.; Jones, R. G.; Orosz, P. J.; Wilson, J. M.; Tice, N. C. An Improved Route to Substituted Cyclopenta[c]thiophenes: Synthesis of 5-Alkyl-1,3-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophenes and Sulfone Ester Precursor. J. Ky. Acad. Sci. 2009, 70, 70-74.
Bozell, J. J. Tice, N. C.; Sanyal, N.; Thompson, D.; Kim, J.; Vidal, S. Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Glycal-based Bolaforms. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 8762–8771.
Tice, N. C., Parkin, S., Bozell, J. J. Molecular Structures of Glycal-based Bolaamphiphiles: Analysis of Crystal Packing and Hydrogen-bond Networks. Carbohydr.Res. 2008, 343, 374–382.
Tice, N. C., Parkin, S., Selegue, J. P. Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structures of Boron-Containing Intermediates in the Reductive Amination of Ferrocenecarboxaldehyde to a Bis(ferrocenylmethyl) Amine. J. Org. Met. Chem. 2007,692, 791–800.
Snyder, C. A.; Selegue, J. P.; Tice, N. C.; Wallace, C. E.; Blankenbuehler, M. T.; Parkin, S.; Allen, K. D. E.; Beck, R. T. Synthesis, Characterization, and Structure of Cyclopenta[c]thiophenes and Their Manganese Complexes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 15010–15011.
Snyder, C. A.; Selegue, J. P.; Dosunmu, E.; Tice, N. C.; Parkin S. C,O-Dialkylation of Meldrum’s Acid: Synthesis and Reactivity of 1,3,7,7-Tetramethyl-4H,10H-6,8,9-trioxa-2-thiabenz[f]azulen-5-one. J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 7455–7459.
The Tice Group at the 2010 Kentucky Academy of Science Conference
By joining the Tice group, students have a number of possiblities to travel to present their research. Below are pictures of two undergraduate student researchers, Jennifer Armstrong and Marika Wieliczko, showing off their results at a recent KAS meeting.
The Tice Group at the 2011 Posters at the Capitol Conference
Students in the Tice Group also recently presented at the 2011 Posters at the Capitol Conference in Frankfort, KY. They were able to show their research to students and faculty from around the state and meet with their Kentucky State Senators and Represenatives.
The Tice Group at the 2011 Kentucky Statewide Workshop: Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency.
Congratulations to Andrew Preston for a 3rd place award at the poster competion at the 2011 Kentucky Renewable Energy conference in Louisville, KY. Nicely done!
The Tice Group at the 2011 Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Anaheim, CA.
Two Group members also recently traveled with Dr. Tice to the Spring ACS Nation meeting and presented their work in sunny CA! Congratulations to both Andrew and Marika for all their hard work and graduation in May 2011!
Tice Group Member is awarded the 2010 Outstanding Thesis Award by the Graduate School.
Sarah Peak, a former MS Chemistry student in the Tice group, was recently awarded 1st place for the most outstanding thesis during the 2010 academic year. Ms. Peak is currently in the Ph.D. program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Congratulations to Sarah!
