James K. Murray Jr., Ph.D.

Man
Man

Title: Professor

Department: Natural Sciences

Office: 119 PSP

Phone: (610) 647-4400 Ext: 3307

Education:
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Drexel University, 2003
M.S. in Organic Chemistry, Drexel University, 1997
B.S. in Chemistry, Drexel University, 1996

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Jim Murray received his B.S. (1996) in Chemistry and his M.S. (1997) and Ph.D. (2003) in Organic Chemistry from Drexel University.  During his undergraduate studies he worked as an analytical chemist analyzing polymer modifiers at Rohm & Haas Corporation, and as an organic chemist in the medicinal chemist department of GlaxoSmithKline.  Dr. Murray has over 15 years of experience in organic synthesis, product isolation/purification, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis.  He has been on the faculty of Immaculata University since the fall of 2001 teaching courses in organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry.

Dr. Murray’s research interests are in the areas of organic chemistry and organic chemistry education.  He is interested in developing experiments that introduce new methodologies and techniques that can be used as effective teaching tools.  Dr. Murray began his involvement with the nanotechnology program in the summer of 2006, initially working on experimental design and implementation.  Since that time he has moved to working on course development and is the principal investigator on Immaculata’s current National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.  Dr. Murray is the chair of the Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) and a former alternate councilor for the Philadelphia Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS).  In his spare time he enjoys classical music and history, in particular World War II and naval history.

Teaching Philosophy: 

Basic, practical, and fun!  I enjoy working with students in their study of chemistry and continually strive to bring these three aspects to all of my courses.  If one is firmly grounded in the basics of chemistry, one can do many and great things.  If the material is not practical students often find difficulty in relating to it.  With chemistry being around us every minute of every day, the subject lends itself to practicality.  I try to use many examples from everyday life and what is currently happening in chemistry.  And finally, fun—if one is not having fun in what one is doing, then there is no reason to be doing it!

Service:

  • Served on Undergraduate Curriculum Committee – Drexel University Dept. of Chemistry
  • Served on Chemistry Department Safety, Health, and Environmental Committee – Drexel University
  • Served as Chemistry Department Chairperson July 2004-2017 – Immaculata University
  • Served as a referee on Immaculata University Office of Sponsored Research proposals
  • Faculty Moderator to Immaculata University’s chapter of Sigma Zeta (Alpha Mu) National Mathematics and Science Honor Society
  • Served as Assistant Secretary of the Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) during the 2007-2008 Academic Year
  • Served as Secretary of the Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) during the 2008-2009 Academic Year
  • Served as Treasurer of the Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) during the 2009-2010 Academic Year
  • Served as Chair-Elect of the Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) during the 2011-2012 Academic Year
  • Served as Alternate Councilor for the Philadelphia Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), 2008-2010

Courses Taught: 

  • CHEM 100 Survey of Chemistry
  • CHEM 101 Basic College Chemistry I
  • CHEM 102 Basic College Chemistry II
  • CHEM 103 Fundamental Chemical Concepts I
  • CHEM 104 Fundamental Chemical Concepts II
  • CHEM 200 Chemical Literature
  • CHEM 201 Introductory Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 202 Introductory Biochemistry
  • CHEM 211 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 212 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 313 Physical Chemistry I
  • CHEM 314 Physical Chemistry II
  • CHEM 318 Advanced Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 326 Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry

Research Interests: 

Organic chemistry education, especially the development of new laboratory experiments for the undergraduate curriculum.  Current areas of research activity include:

  • Potassium Organotrifluoroborates in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions
  • Rhodium and Cobalt Catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions
  • Gold-Catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangements of propargylic alcohols
  • Samarium(II) iodide (SmI2) mediated organic reactions
  • Synthesis of 7-oxysubstituted coumarins as potential antioxidants
  • Synthesis of N-heterocycle substituted 2,4-dinitrobenzene derivatives
  • [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements such as ortho-ester Claisen and Eschenmoser-Claisen Rearrangements.

Publications: 

  • “Photoacid-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Reactions for the Preparation of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials”: Wei, Y.; Wang, W.; Yeh, J-M.; Wang, B.; Yang, D.; Murray, Jr., J.K. Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 1994, 70, 272.
  • “Photochemical Synthesis of Polyacrylate-Silica Hybrid Sol-Gel Materials Catalyzed by Photoacids” Wei, Y.; Wang, W.; Yeh, J-M.; Wang, B.; Yang, D.; Murray, Jr., J.K. Adv. Mater.1994, 6, 372.
  • “Vinyl-Polymer-Modified Hybrid Materials and Photoacid-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Reactions” Wei, Y.; Wang, W.; Yeh, J-M.; Wang, B.; Yang, D.; Murray, Jr., J.K.; Jin, D.; Wei, G. in Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. No. 585, “Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Composites”, Edited by J.E. Mark, C.Y.-C. Lee and P.A. Bianconi, Chapter 11, pp. 125-141, 1995.
  • “Autoxidation of 2-(1,3-Dithianyl)lithium: A Cautionary Note”: Wade, P.A.; D’Ambrosio, S.G.; Murray, Jr., J.K. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 4258.
  • “Continuing Synthetic Studies Directed at Preparation of Dinitro- and Tetranitrospiropentane”: Wade, P.A.; D’Ambrosio, S.G.; Murray, Jr., J.K.; Shah, S.S Report of the 14th Annual Working Group Institute on Synthesis of High Energy Density Materials; Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, NY; 7-9 June, 1995, 44.
  • “Synthesis of L-Daunosamine Derivatives on the Basis of the Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of 3-((E)-1-Propenyl)-4,5-dihydroisoxazole”: Wade, P.A.; D’Ambrosio, S.G.; Rao, J.A.; Shah-Patel, S.; Cole, D.T.; Murray, Jr., J.K.; Carroll, P.J. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 3671.
  • “Tandem Nitroaldol-Dehydration Reactions Employing the Dianion of Phenylsulfonylnitromethane”: Wade, P.A.; Murray, Jr., J.K., Shah-Patel, S.; Palfey, B.A.; Carroll, P.J. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 7723.
  • “Generation and In Situ Diels-Alder Reactions of Activated Nitroethylene Derivatives”: Wade, P.A.; Murray, Jr., J.K., Shah-Patel, S.; Carroll, P.J. Tetrahedron Lett, 2002, 43, 2585.
  • “Competing Diels-Alder Reactions of Activated Nitroethylene Derivatives and [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of the Cycloadduct”: Wade, P.A.; Murray, Jr., J.K.; Shah-Patel, S.K.; Le, H.T. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 2002, 10, 1090.
  • “Reactions of (1-nitroethenyl)sulfonylbenzene, a Nitroethene Derivative Geminally Substituted by a Second W-Group “: Wade, P.A., Murray, Jr., J.K., Pipic, A., Arbaugh, R., Jeyarajasingam, A. J. Physical Organic Chemistry, Volume 22, Issue 4, Date: April 2009, Pages: 337-342.

Presentations: 

  • “Synthesis and Evaluation of the Solvatochromic Properties of Various 2,6-Diaryl-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines,” James K. Murray, Jr., Michael Castaldi, and Mercedes Bauman, 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, 21-25 August, 2016, Philadelphia, PA.
  • “Multi-step Synthesis for Second Year Organic Students:  Wittig Olefination, Transfer Hydrogenation, and Ester Hydrolysis,” James K. Murray, Jr., Michael Castaldi, and Patrick Ross, 252nd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, 21-25 August, 2016, Philadelphia, PA.
  • “Potassium Organotrifluoroborates: Useful Reagents for Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions that Undergraduate Students Should Know”, Carol N. Cipolla and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 240th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, 22-26 August, 2010, Boston, MA, Chemical Education Division.
  • “Investigation of Transition Metal-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions for the Preparation of Highly Substituted Benzenes: Useful Teaching Tools for Undergraduate Organic Chemistry”, Elizabeth D. Hewlett and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 240th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, 22-26 August, 2010, Boston, MA, Chemical Education Division.
  • “Studies Toward the Synthesis of Piperine using Wittig Reactions of Stabilized Phosphonium Ylides to Install the E,E-Diene”, Matthew C.R. Zagorski, James K. Murray, Jr.*and Matthias Zeller, 236th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, 17-21 August, 2008, Philadelphia, PA, Chemical Education Division, Poster #247.
  • “Transforming the Tri-State Philadelphia Region: A PFI in Science and Technology Education”James K. Murray, Jr.*, David E. Luzzi, Sr. Ann M. Heath, Melody R. Wilt, and Barry F. Stein. NSF PFI Grantees Workshop, 30 March – 1 April, 2008, Westin Arlington, Arlington, VA.
  • “Using 2D-NMR Simulations to Study 4J Couplings in 2-Isothiazolines”, Carol Cipolla and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 8th Annual Graduate & 3rd Annual Undergraduate Poster Session, Temple University, 24 January, 2008.
  • “Using 2D-NMR Simulations to Study 4J Couplings in 2-Isothiazolines”, Carol Cipolla and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 9th Annual SEPCHE Honors Conference, March 31, 2007, Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA, Session If – “Our Scientific World: How We Analyze It”, Oral Presentation #5.
  • “The Rupe Rearrangement: A Useful Reaction for Teaching Organic Reaction Mechanisms”, Matthew C.R. Zagorski, Claire Coleman, and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 38th Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM) of the American Chemical Society (ACS), 5 June, 2006, Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA, Chemical Education General Poster Session, Poster # 179.
  • “Indium-Mediated Allylation of Aldehydes: A “Green Chemistry” Alternative to the Grignard Reaction”, Heather B. Allewelt and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 7th Annual SEPCHE Honors Conference, April 16, 2005, Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA, Session IIg – “Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry”, Oral Presentation #1.
  • “Development of Micro-Scale Organic Reactions Based on the Use of Samarium(II) Iodide (SmI2) for Implementation into the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory”, Heather B. Allewelt, Claire Coleman, Christine James, and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), October 16, 2004.
  • “Development of Micro-Scale Organic Reactions Based on the Use of Samarium(II) Iodide (SmI2) for Implementation into the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory”, Heather B. Allewelt, Claire Coleman, Christine James, and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 226th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, September 7-11, 2003, New York, NY, Division of Chemical Education – Undergraduate Research in Organic Chemistry Poster Session, Poster #177.
  • “The First Hemiacetal Mimic”, Peter A. Wade*, Poonam Rohilla, James K. Murray, Jr., and Ruchi Tandon, 14th Biennial Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) Day, May 29, 2003, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #29.
  • “Development of Micro-Scale Organic Reactions Based on the Use of Samarium(II) Iodide (SmI2) for Implementation into the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory”, Heather B. Allewelt, Claire Coleman, Christine James, and James K. Murray, Jr.*, 5th Annual SEPCHE Honors Conference, March 29, 2003, Cabrini College, Radnor, PA, Session IIg – “Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry”, Oral Presentation #1.
  • “Competing Diels-Alder Reactions of Activated Nitroethylene Derivatives and [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of the Cycloadducts”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Hung T. Le, and Sharmila Shah-Patel, 2nd Annual College of Arts and Sciences Student Research Day, April 30, 2002, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #56.
  • α-Substituted Nitroethylenes as Dienophiles and Heterodienes in Diels-Alder Reactions”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Sharmila Shah-Patel, and Lauren G. Beers, 13th Biennial Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) Day, May 31, 2001, University of Pennsylvania / Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA,  Poster #28.  (Third Prize winner in the poster competition.)
  • “An Efficient Protocol for Conduction Diels-Alder Reactions that Employ α-Substituted Nitroethylene Derivatives as the Dienophile”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Sharmila Shah-Patel, and Patrick J. Carroll, 221st American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, April 1-5, 2001, San Diego, CA, Division of Organic Chemistry – Oral Presentation #19.
  • “An Efficient Protocol for Conduction Diels-Alder Reactions that Employ α-Substituted Nitroethylene Derivatives as the Dienophile”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Sharmila Shah-Patel, Lauren G. Beers, and Patrick J. Carroll, Philadelphia Section of the American Chemical Society 1st Annual Graduate Student Poster Session, January 25, 2001, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #20.
  • “Tandem Nitroaldol-Dehydration Reactions Employing the Dianion of Phenylsulfonylnitromethane”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Sharmila Shah-Patel, and Bruce A. Palfey, 220th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, March 26-30, 2000, San Francisco, CA, Division of Organic Chemistry – Oral Presentation #443.
  • β,γ-Unsaturated α-Nitrosulfones: Synthesis and Tautomerization”, Peter A. Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., Sharmila Shah-Patel, and Bruce A. Palfey, 12th Biennial Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) Day, May 27, 1999, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #15.
  • “Tandem Nitroaldol/Dehydration Reactions for the Preparation of 4,4-Disubstituted Cyclohexene Systems”, Peter A, Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., and Sharmila Shah-Patel, 9thAnnual Sigma Xi Research Symposium, May 20, 1997, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #16.
  • “Tandem Nitroaldol/Dehydration Reactions for the Preparation of 4,4-Disubstituted Cyclohexene Systems”, Peter A, Wade*, James K. Murray, Jr., and Sharmila Shah-Patel, 11thBiennial Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC) Day, May 15, 1997, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Poster #29.

Grants: 

  • “Transforming the Tri-State Philadelphia Region: A Partnership for Innovation in Science & Technology Education”; National Science Foundation (NSF) Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program, #0650271, March 2008 thru February 2012; $600,000.
  • “Sigmatropic Rearrangements: Useful, Informative, and Overlooked: Development of an Eschenmoser-Claisen Rearrangement Experiment for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory”; Immaculata University Office of Sponsored Research 2007; $2,000.
  • “Computational Study of Correlations in 4-Substituted and 3,5-Disubstituted 2-Isothiazolines, and Their Related Compounds, Using Two- Dimensional (2D) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Simulations”; Immaculata University Office of Sponsored Research 2007; $2,000.
  • “Development of Micro-Scale Organic Reactions Based on the Use of Samarium (II) Iodide (SmI2) for Implementation into the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory”; Immaculata University Office of Sponsored Research 2003; $6,912.20.
  • Immaculata University Faculty Incentive Fund – Attendance at the 224th National Meeting and Exposition of the ACS, 18-22 August, 2002, Boston, MA; $780.
  • Immaculata University Faculty Incentive Fund – Attendance at the 226th National Meeting and Exposition of the ACS, 7-11 September, 2003, New York, NY; $600.
  • Immaculata University Math/Science Grant – Attendance at the 228th National Meeting and Exposition of the ACS, 22-26 August, 2004, Philadelphia, PA; $700, for three faculty members.
  • Immaculata University Faculty Incentive Fund – Attendance at the Pennsylvania Organic Chemistry Curriculum Development Conference (Invited Speaker), 27-29 May, 2008, California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA, $576.
  • Immaculata University Faculty Incentive Fund – Attendance at the 240th National Meeting and Exposition of the ACS, 22-26 August, 2010, Boston, MA; $1000.
  • Immaculata University Faculty Incentive Fund – Attendance at the American Chemical   Society (ACS) Short Course “Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology” May 1st and 2nd, 2011, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA.

Professional Memberships: 

  • American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • ACS Organic Chemistry Division
  • ACS Chemical Education Division
  • ACS Philadelphia Section
  • Philadelphia Organic Chemists’ Club (POCC)
    • Assistant Secretary 2007-2008
    • Secretary 2008-2009
    • Treasurer 2009-2010
    • Chair-Elect 2011-2012
    • Chair 2012-2013
  • United States Naval Institute (USNI Member # 229782)

Awards: 

2010-2011 Philadelphia Section American Chemical Society (ACS) Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in Chemical Science

Dissertation: 

α-Nitrosulfones: Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies”

Three α-substituted nitroethylene derivatives were prepared in situ from phenylsulfonylnitromethane, α-nitroacetophenone, and ethyl nitroacetate and allowed to react with a series of dienes to yield the corresponding Diels-Alder cycloadducts.  The same nitroethylene derivatives were also prepared from the corresponding β-sulfoxides via elimination.  The β-sulfoxides were prepared from the corresponding β-sulfides which were in turn prepared by trapping the nitroethylene derivatives with thiophenol.  The nitroethylene derivatives were found to exhibit both dienophile and heterodiene behavior in the cycloaddition reactions that were examined.  Their behavior as heterodienes afforded nitronic esters which were observed to undergo [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.  Rearrangement afforded the same bicyclic nitro compounds obtained via direct cycloaddition.  The sulfone group in the nitrosulfone cycloadducts could be replaced by the anion of 2-nitropropane in a SRN1 process.

Treatment of the dianion of phenylsulfonylnitromethane with unbranched aldehydes led to formation of β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones as the isolable products.  Under buffered conditions, the β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones could be tautomerized to conjugated α,β-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones and these could be trapped with phenylsulfonylnitromethane to yield the corresponding Michael adducts.  If a thiol was initially present, α,β-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones could be intercepted to give the corresponding β-sulfides with little or no formation of β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones.  The β-sulfides were obtained as a mixture of diastereomers which upon silica gel chromatography converted to a single crystalline diastereomer.

The diastereomers of bis(1,3-phenylsulfonyl)-1,3-dinitropropane underwent isomerization.  The elimination of nitrous acid from unsaturated  α-nitrosulfones was observed affording dienes.  Synthesis of 6-nitro-6-phenylsulfonylhexanenitrile was accomplished in preparation for reduction and cyclization.

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