{"686910":{"#nid":"686910","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Organic Chemistry\/GTPN Seminar: Prof. Wesley Farrell (Naval Academy)","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EOrganic Chemistry\/GTPN Seminar\u003Cbr\u003EProf. Wesley Farrell\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUS Naval Academy\u003Cbr\u003EDepartment of Biochemistry\u003Cbr\u003EThursday, January 29, 2026\u003Cbr\u003EMoSE G011\u003Cbr\u003E11:00am - 12:00pm\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ETitle:\u0026nbsp;Developments in Vanadium-Mediated Olefin Metathesis\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EAbstract:\u003Cbr\u003EOlefin metathesis reactions are of enormous importance for the synthesis of small and macromolecules alike, and historically have been mediated by Mo, W, and Ru alkylidene catalysts. \u0026nbsp;While these compounds are\u003Cbr\u003Eundoubtedly valuable, there is good reason to explore metathesis with first-row transition metals given that they are more abundant and inexpensive than their heavier counterparts. \u0026nbsp;This talk will describe efforts by our group to better understand metathesis\u003Cbr\u003Emediated by vanadium(V) alkylidenes in both cross-metathesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerization. \u0026nbsp;Specifically, limitations in cross-metathesis relevant to small and macromolecule synthesis will be described, functional group tolerance in ring-opening\u003Cbr\u003Emetathesis will be explored, and initial investigations into the origins of polymer stereochemistry will be shared. A summary of the state of the field beyond these efforts will also be presented.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EBio:\u003Cbr\u003EWes Farrell graduated from Wake Forest University in 2010 with a BS in Chemistry,\u0026nbsp;where he did computational research on Pt-based cancer drugs with Prof. Akbar Salam. \u0026nbsp;He went on to earn a PhD at the University\u003Cbr\u003Eof Maryland where he worked on small molecule activation and catalysis with mid-valent group 6 complexes under the direction of Prof. Larry Sita. \u0026nbsp;Seeking to gain experience in polymer chemistry, Wes then went on to do a postdoc at the National Institute of\u003Cbr\u003EStandards and Technology with Dr. Kate Beers, developing methods for the synthesis of highly controlled polyethylene structures and deuterated polymers. \u0026nbsp;In 2018, Wes joined the faculty at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he holds the rank\u003Cbr\u003Eof associate professor. \u0026nbsp;His lab focuses on the development of olefin metathesis chemistry with abundant vanadium catalysts, as well as the synthesis of polymers for defense applications. \u0026nbsp;Beyond this role, Wes also does work with ACS, both with his local\u003Cbr\u003Esection and the national Project SEED committee, and IUPAC as a member of the Subcommittee on Polymer Terminology.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EHost: Will Gutekunst\/Blair Brettmann\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOne in the series of the SoCB seminars.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"School of Chemistry \u0026 Biochemistry - Seminar Series"}],"uid":"35342","created_gmt":"2025-12-16 18:05:55","changed_gmt":"2026-01-08 17:57:38","author":"mcurtis41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-01-29T11:00:00-05:00","event_time_end":"2026-01-29T12:00:00-05:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-01-29T12:00:00-05:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-01-29 16:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-01-29 17:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-01-29 17:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"MoSE G011","extras":[],"hg_media":{"678936":{"id":"678936","type":"image","title":"Wes-Farrell.jpg","body":null,"created":"1767895040","gmt_created":"2026-01-08 17:57:20","changed":"1767895040","gmt_changed":"2026-01-08 17:57:20","alt":"Wes-Farrell.jpg","file":{"fid":"263034","name":"Wes-Farrell.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/08\/Wes-Farrell.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/08\/Wes-Farrell.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":157597,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/08\/Wes-Farrell.jpg?itok=KyyNbjs_"}}},"media_ids":["678936"],"groups":[{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1795","name":"Seminar\/Lecture\/Colloquium"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EHost: Will Gutekunst\/Blair Brettmann\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}