Double Major: Biology

diphenyl-1,3-butadienes Photoirradiation of 1-Alkyl-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadienes was found to induce photoisomerization of the compounds. UV irradiation of 1-methyl-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene yields two isomers (1E, 3E) and (1Z, 3E), however, upon irradiation of 1-trifluoromethyl-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene only the (1Z, 3E) isomer was formed. Our observations suggest that the alkyl substituent effects the regioselectivity of the compound. An electron donating group, such as the methyl group, decreases the regioselectivity, and an electron withdrawing group, such as the trifluoromethyl group, increases the regioselectivity of the compound. Jin Liu, who is in her fifth year at Murray State University, came to the Department of Chemistry after obtaining a Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii and completing a postdoctoral research appointment at Cornell University. Her teaching interests include organic chemistry, polymer chemistry and brief organic chemistry. Wendt is one of over 15 students whom Liu has mentored in her bioorganic chemistry laboratory