IRES: International Chemistry Research Experience for Students in Vietnam

Fisk University, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

OISE-0744375 (Pratt, L.M. - Fisk University) IRES: International Chemistry Research Experience for Students in Vietnam Over a three-year period this International Research Experience for Students (IRES) project will annually provide nine U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with a nine-week international research experience to increase the chemistry communities understanding of organolithium chemistry and developing green organolithium chemistry for industrial scale-up. The proposed research builds on existing research projects and past and existing education and training initiatives developed collaboratively by the U.S. PI from Fisk University and the foreign PIs from the University of Natural Sciences, the University of Technology, and the University of Pedagogy all located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The organolithium-chemistry research projects will focus on experimental and theoretical relevant issues pertaining to the solubility of lithium compounds in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), the stability of CPME toward strong lithium bases, the selectivity of alkyllithium reactions with ketones in CPME, and solvent-free reactions of lithium dialkylamides. Pre- and in country activities will provide the student participants a rich venue to gain cultural and global perspectives. The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (OIA/EPSCoR) co-funded this grant.