Charles E. Kaufman Foundation New Investigator Award, 2015
My research focuses on the discovery and development of new electroactive organic materials. Specifically, we are developing synthetic routes and methods to construct new air-stable, open-shell, π-conjugated molecules. These compounds employ stabilized unpaired spin to achieve new materials properties that include luminescence, conductivity, and even catalysis. Ultimately, we aim to study these compounds as functional materials in devices, in order to improve upon current materials capabilities in the field of organic electronics (i.e. solar cells, field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes).
Selected Publications:
1. Douglas, J.D.; Chen, M.S.*; Niskala, J.R.; Lee, O.P.; Yiu, A.T.; Young, E.P.; Fréchet, J.M.J.* “Solution-Processed, Molecular Photovoltaics that Exploit Hole Transfer from Non-Fullerene, n-Type Materials.” Adv. Mater., 2014, 26, 4313. Link via Wiley.com
2. Chen, M.S.*; Lee, O.P.; Niskala, J.R.; Yiu, A.T.; Beaujuge, P.M.; Onishi, S.; Tassone, C.J.; Schmidt, K.; Toney, M.F.; Zettl, A.; Fréchet, J.M.J.* “Enhanced Solid-State Order and Field-Effect Hole Mobility through Control of Nanoscale Solution Aggregation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 19229. Link via ACS.org
• Highlighted in “Donor-Acceptor Polymers” ACS Selects, 2015, Virtual Issue 33.
3. Chen, M.S.*; Niskala, J.R.; Unruh, D.A.; Chu, C.K.; Lee, O.P.; Fréchet, J.M.J.* “Control of Polymer-Packing Orientation in Thin Films through Synthetic Tailoring of Backbone Coplanarity.” Chem. Mater., 2013, 25, 4088. Link via ACS.org
4. Hoffman, D.P.; Lee, O.P.; Millstone, J.E.; Chen, M.S.; Su, T.A.; Creelman, M.; Fréchet, J.M.J.; Mathies, R.A.* “Electron Transfer Dynamics of Triphenylamine Dyes Bound to TiO2 Nanoparticles from Femtosecond Stimulated Raman.” J. Phys. Chem C, 2013, 117, 6990. Link via ACS.org
5. Douglas, J.D.; Griffini, G.; Holcombe, T.W.; Young, E.P.; Lee, O.P.; Chen, M.S.*; Fréchet, J.M.J.* “Functionalized Isothianaphthene Monomers That Promote Quinoidal Character in Donor-Acceptor Copolymers for Organic Photovoltaics.” Macromolecules 2012, 45, 4069-4074. Link via ACS.org
• One of the most accessed articles in Macromolecules from April 2012 to June 2012.
6. Lee, O.P.; Yiu, A.T.; Beaujuge, P.M.; Woo, C.H.; Holcombe, T.W.; Millstone, J.E.; Douglas, J.D.; Chen, M.S.*; Fréchet, J.M.J*. "Efficient Small Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells with High Fill Factors via Pyrene-Directed Molecular Self-Assembly." Adv. Mater., 2011, 23, 5359. Link via Wiley.com
7. Chen, M.S.; White, M.C.* “Combined Effects on Selectivity in Fe-Catalyzed Methylene Oxidation.” Science 2010, 327, 566. Link via Sciencemag.org
• For perspective on this work see: M.J. Haas, “Unlocking Ketones.” SciBX, 2010, 3, 1.
• For highlights see: “Methylene Magic.” Nature, 2010, 463, 590; S. Borman, “Choosing One Among Many.” Chem. & Eng. News, 2010, 88, 54; A. Turley, “Targeted Bond Breakage.” Chem. & Ind. 2010, Feb, 11.
8. Vermeulen, N.A.; Chen, M.S.; White, M.C.* “The Fe(PDP)-Catalyzed Aliphatic C-H Oxidation: A Slow Addition Protocol.” Tetrahedron 2009, 65, 3078. Link via sciencedirect.com
9. Chen, M.S.; White, M.C.* “A Predictably Selective Aliphatic C-H Oxidation for Complex Molecule Synthesis.” Science 2007, 318, 783. Link via Sciencemag.org
• Included among advances in Science’s “Breakthrough of the Year” Special Issue, 2007, 318, 1848; “Highlights of 2007.”Chem. & Eng. News, 2007, 85, 13; and “Cutting Edge Chemistry in 2007.” Chem. World, 2008, 5, 24.
• For perspectives on this work see: R.H. Crabtree, “No Protection Required.” Science, 2007, 318, 756; M. Christmann, “Selective Oxidation of Aliphatic C-H Bonds in the Synthesis of Complex Molecules.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 2740; S.K. Ritter, “Iron’s Star Rising.” Chem & Eng. News, 2008, 86, 53.
• For highlights see: J. Kemsley, “Catalyst Oxidizes Selectively.” Chem. Eng. News, 2007, 85, 8; “Green Cleaver.” Nature, 2007, 450, 139; P. Walter, “Green Catalyst could Clean-Up in Drug Production.” Chem. & Ind., 2007, 21, 7; R. Van Noorden, “Step Change for Organic Synthesis.” Chem. World, 2007, 4 (12), 23; K. Bullis, “Drugs that are Easier on the Environment.” Tech. Rev., 2007, Jan/Feb, 85.
10. Chen, M.S.; Prabagaran, N.; Labenz, N.; White, M.C.* “Serial Ligand Catalysis: A Highly Selective Allylic C-H Oxidation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 6970. Link via ACS.org
• For highlight see: “Catalysis with Serial Ligands.” Chem. & Eng. News 2005, 83, 31.
11. Chen, M.S.; White, M.C.* “A Sulfoxide Promoted, Catalytic Method for the Regioselective Synthesis of Allylic Acetates from Monosubstituted Olefins via C-H Oxidation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 1346. Link via ACS.org