Tanko Research Group

      Welcome the website of the research group of Dr. Jim Tanko!  We are a physical organic group in the Chemistry Department at Virginia Tech.  Our group studies photochemical and electrochemical oxidations and reductions involving radicals and radical ions.  Mechanism elucidation and kinetic characterization of small molecule transfers and to amine radical cations, oxygen centered radicals and epoxyketyl radical anions are some examples of our focuses.  We are also interested in cyclopropyl aryl radical ions and the mechanism of decay for these substrates.  Many of the molecules of interest in our research are biologically significant. 

    Oxygen centered radicals are integral to several biological oxidation while some are essential and beneficial and some involved in degenerative conditions.  Understanding the mechanism and trends in reactivity of these molecules is vital to understanding these processes.  Aromatic amine radical cation are suspected to be intermediates in enzyme catalyzed oxidations involving heme proteins such as cytochrome P450's and monoamine oxygenases.  Our research into the mechanism of decay of cyclopropylarylamines radical cations aids in the evaluation of the efficacy of these compounds as potential inhibitors for these enzyme; in addition to providing evidence for the mechanism of catalysis for these enzymes with arylamine substrates. 

      Our research projects formally lie at the interface of organic and physical chemistry.  What this means is that we use principles, techniques, and theory from physical chemistry to probe the "how" and "why" of organic chemical behavior. It is our belief that such knowledge is a prerequisite to the successful application of organic chemistry to problems in either academe or industry. Participants in this research gain practical experience in several areas, including molecular modeling, the synthesis and handling of organic compounds, separation and characterization of reaction mixtures, analytical procedures for the precise quantification of reaction products, and elucidation of reaction mechanism via kinetic studies and isotopic labeling. In addition, participants develop a thorough understanding of a) the use, design, and function of sophisticated laboratory instrumentation and b) the fundamental principles underlying chemical reactivity.

Members(Left to Right): Akiko Nakamura, Eveline Richert, Jared Spencer,

Michelle Grimm, Amber Hancock, Susan Mitroka, Stephanie Zimmeck & Hayati Celik

For problems or questions regarding this Web site contact [hancocka@vt.edu].
Last updated: 02/28/08.