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February SpeakerDr. Robert J. Levis

the CatalystOfficial Publication of the Philadelphia Section, American Chemical Society

Founded April 15, 1899Volume 91, No. 2 February 2006

STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

A D V A N C E N O T I C E

MARCH MEETINGEdgar Fahs Smith Lecture

Dr. Robert Bergman

University of California, Berkeley

THURSDAY, March 23rd, 2006 (note this is the fourth Thursday)

See the MARCH issue of the Catalyst for details,call the Section Office at (215) 382-1589, email PhilaACS@aol.com

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FromTheChair

Deborah E.Kilmartin

It’s Christmas Day as I’m writing this andI’m using my new silicon dioxide sphere(chemspeak for crystal ball) to speak to youabout February and the year ahead. I canpredict the January meeting easily—it willbe a success with at least 39 papers and 43students presenting their posters, and a longlist of students attending the career workshopbefore the January deadline. In fact, I canpredict today that we will be looking atholding yet another career workshop thisyear as well as resume writing sessions andother job-getting activities because providingsupport for successful job searching is one ofthe many things the Society and the localsection does. But that’s old news to thosereading this issue.

The rest of the year is less clear, some extrafluoride perhaps clouding that crystal, but Ialready know that in February we will bevisiting the Temple campus for the monthlylecture, a location we haven’t visited forquite a while. (See the meeting notice on page22 for the details.) I hope that many of youwill join us at least for the lecture by Dr.Robert Levis, Temple’s Chem Departmentchair and the director of Temple’s Center forAdvanced Photonics Research. You needn’tattend the social hour and dinner to attend thelecture, although these events are where thenetworking occurs.

And that brings up my next point,networking. If all you are getting for yourmembership dues are publications at themember rate, you aren’t getting the bestvalue for your money! In addition topublications, the Society offers careerenhancing opportunities, numerous career-supporting programs, and benefits such asportable life insurance. For those of you witha small business or embarking on your second

or third career, there is consultant insuranceat really low rates. I’m horrible at networkingand yet I have obtained positions, beenpromoted, and built a network ofprofessionals that make me a goodenvironmental consultant. If you don’t useyour membership to network, then youdeserve the career you have. By volunteeringand serving on one or more committees, youcan use the local section and the nationalSociety to build a new or better career. Byworking on the Publications Committee, Ilearned proofreading, desktop publishingand how to run a committee. By working onthe Social Committee, I learned how to pullan event together amid the multitude of tasksneeded to pull off an event. By doing chemicaldemonstrations at schools around the area, Ilearned how to speak before non-technicalaudiences and gathered confidence inspeaking. Well, mostly. I’m still working onthe public speaking part. And now, as SectionChair, I’m learning to deliver multiple projectsby motivating volunteers, or so I intend withyour help.

As the Section Chair-Elect in 2005, Iattended two training sessions, one in Feb-ruary to familiarize myself with the staff andthe programs offered by National and thesecond in October in Memphis, TN to helpme learn what kind of leader I am and how tomaximize my strengths. It was great fun aswell as a learning experience. Our farewelldinner was held in Elvis Presley’s car museumafter an exclusive tour. While I can’t providesuch a unique ending, it’s my hope to providesimilar leadership training to our youngermembers during the course of 2006. Anysuggestions on programs or presenters arewelcome.

I would like to thank Judy Summers-Gates, who will be chairing the NationalChemistry Week Committee this year, Dr.Robert Gates, who will be chairing theChemical Health and Safety Committee, andDr. Sheldon Miller, who will be tackling theLiaison Committee. We are still looking forother committee chairs such as SocialCommittee and a great one to work on—thePublic Relations Committee. We are also

looking for people, young or older, chemist,biologist, physicist, or educator at any levelwilling to serve on the various committees.It’s a risk free way to gain professionalexperiences and to network.

Abstract: Evolving Laser Pulses forChemistry: From Reaction Control toWeapons Detection.

A revolution is underway in use of laserpulses to initiate, detect and manipulatechemical reactivity. This talk will presentthe use of intense (100 trillion watt), ultrafast(40 femtosecond) laser pulses to inducechemical transformations in complexmolecules. State-of-the-art laser pulses can

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY ANDABSTRACT

Dr. Robert J. Levis

Biography: Robert J. Levis is Professorof Chemistry at Temple University wherehe also directs the Center for AdvancedPhotonics Research and Chairs theChemistry Department. Levis pioneeredthe area of strong field chemistry, that is theuse of ultrafast and intense lasers to modify,manipulate and detect molecular systems.This work employs lasers having electricfield strength of magnitude equal to theforces binding atoms into molecules toreprogram specific characteristics ofmolecular Hamiltonians. Recent workcombines strong laser fields with adaptivecontrol to develop novel photonic chemistries.This work has applications in such diverseareas as the detection of chemical warfareagents and biophotonics (e.g., deep tissuecancer detection). Levis obtained his BAfrom LaSalle and PhD from Penn State in thefield of Chemistry. He is a fellow of theAmerican Physical Society and has receivedthe National Science Foundation YoungInvestigator Award, the Camille DreyfusTeacher Scholar Award, the Alfred P. SloanResearch Fellow Award, the AmericanSociety for Mass Spectrometry ResearchAward and the NIH Research CareerDevelopment Award.

BOOK REVIEWAlan Warren

Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kineticsby I. Chorkendorff and J.W. Niemants-verdriet. Clothbound, 6 ∫ by 9 ˚ inches, 452plus xviii pages, Wiley VCH, Weinheim,Germany 2005, ISBN 3-527-30574-2,$59.95.

Approximately 90% of chemical produc-tion today involves catalytic processes.Catalysis has come a long way since itsbeginnings in the 19th century. The intro-ductory chapter defines homogeneous andheterogeneous catalysts, biocatalysts, andgeneral catalyst references in the literature.

The importance of kinetics in the study ofcatalysis is emphasized with discussions onrate, reactions, equilibriums, coupledreactions, and the role of adsorption.Additional chapters focus on reaction ratetheory, catalyst characterization, solidcatalysts, surface reactivity, the kinetics ofreactions on surfaces, industrial applicationsof heterogeneous catalysts, oil refining andpetrochemistry, and environmental appli-cations of catalysis (automotive exhaust,industrial air pollution).

One section near the end of the book posesquestions and suggested exercises for eachchapter, thus making this a good teachingtext. In fact, much of the book is based oncourses taught by the coauthors. The bookconcludes with an index but lacks literaturereferences other than a few very general onesin the opening chapter.

create exotic environments for moleculesthat coax reactivity in the same manner thatenzymes interact with molecules. Unlikeenzymes, there is the ability to evolve newphotonic reagents to control chemistry inreal time. The use of designer laser pulses fornew photonic chemistries will be describedwith applications in chemical weaponsdetection, controlling chaos in laser-inducedfilamentation and the pursuit of a new formof oxygen, cyclic ozone.

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FEBRUARY MEETING

THE PHILADELPHIA SECTION,

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

presents

Evolving Laser Pulses for Chemistry:From Reaction Control to Weapons Detection

Dr. Robert J. LevisDepartment of Chemistry

and Director, Center for Advanced Photonics Research

Temple University

Thursday, February 16th, 20067:00 PM

Rhoades Room, Diamond Club, Mitten Hall1913 North Broad Street, Philadelphia

Dinner at 6:00 PM in the Tuttle Room, Diamond Club,Mitten Hall: $20.00; students with ID $10.00.

RESERVATIONS should be made by calling Mrs. Libby Harper at the section office,(215) 382-1589, by 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 9th. Cancellations, if necessary,cannot be accepted after NOON on Tuesday, February 14th. UNCANCELLEDRESERVATIONS WILL BE BILLED.

PARKING is available for $9 in Lot #1 between 15th and Broad Streets, south of NorrisStreet. For map and directions, see http://mdev.temple.edu/maps/campuses/maps_index.asp?strCampus=1.

The Board of Directors will meet at 4:00 PM in the Rhoades Room, Diamond Club,Mitten Hall.

NEWS ATOMS

Philadelphia Section members achievedmajor results in the recent national ACSelections. Catherine T. Hunt, leader oftechnology partnerships at Rohm and Haas,is president-elect for 2006 and becomespresident of the American Chemical Societyin 2007. James D. Burke, past sectionchairman and retired from Rohm and Haas,was re-elected a director-at-large.Madeleine M. Joullié , professor ofchemistry at the University of Pennsylvania,was re-elected District III director.

Former editor and secretary of thePhiladelphia Section Roberta R. Acchionejoined the consulting firm Clementi-King asdirector of regulatory affairs. She will beresponsible for submitting applications tothe Food and Drug Administration on behalfof her firm’s clients.

DEATHS

Frederick W. Schreiber, a 62-yearmember of ACS, August 9th, 2003.

John W. Pensabene, chemist with theEastern Regional Research Center of USDA,February 12th, 2005. He authored a numberof papers on analytical methods for meat andegg products. Pensabene was a 37-yearmember of ACS.

Samuel Closson Jones, chemical engineerformerly with Sun Oil Co., November 1st at100. He was an avid hiker, skier and bird-watcher, and both he and his wife dedicatedthemselves to a number of environmentalorganizations.

Fredric Rieders, pharmacology professorand toxicologist, November 26th at 83. Hetaught pharmacology at Thomas JeffersonUniversity for many years. Rieders waschief toxicologist in the Philadelphia MedicalExaminers Office and established the city’spoison control center in the 1950s. In 1970he became founding president of NationalMedical Services. He authored over 100articles and book chapters and served as anexpert witness in several high profile murdercases where poison was involved.

Andrew S. Tomcufcik, former researchchemist with Lederle Laboratories, December7th at 84. He worked on the ManhattanProject with the Army Corps of Engineers atYale University before joining Lederle wherehe was employed for 43 years. He wasinventor or co-inventor in over 100 patentsand developed drugs for cancer, tuberculosis,malaria, and hypertension.

NOMINATIONS INVITEDPHILADELPHIA SECTION AWARD

The Philadelphia Section invites itsmembers and regional and topical groups toconsider recommending candidate(s) for thePhiladelphia Section Award.

This Award recognizes an individual, “who,by conspicuous scientific achievementthrough research, has made importantcontributions to man’s knowledge andthereby aided the public appreciation of theprofession.” Any member of the ACS,Philadelphia Section may be nominated forthis award. Recent awardees include R. Paster-nack (Swarthmore College 2005), M. Therien(U. of Pennsylvania, 2004), G. Molander(U. of Pennsylvania, 2003).

INSTRUCTIONS

(1) The nominator should provide detailedbiographical data of the nominee, showingeducational and employment data, a list ofpublications and a record of other accom-plishments pertinent to this award.

(2) One or two seconding letters (at leastone of which should be from a person in anorganization other than that of the nominee)should be requested in support.

(3) Nominators and seconders should beidentified with addresses and telephonenumbers so that they can be contacted, ifnecessary, for additional information.

(4) Unsuccessful nominees from previousyears may be renominated. In fairness, how-ever, renominations must be accompaniedby an updating of the nominee’s biographicaldata and list of accomplishments in order tomake the nomination competitive. Unsuc-cessful nominees who have been considered

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CHEMICAL CONSULTANTSNETWORK

Joint meeting with AIChEDelaware Valley Section

Visit our web page atwww.chemconsultants.org

Vaccine DevelopmentBrian Lange, Merck

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 8 th,2006. Reception, 6:00 PM; Dinner, 6:30PM; Speaker, 7:15 PM.

Reservation: To make or cancel a dinnerreservation, email arrangements charimanChuck Clerecuzio at CClerecuzio@ipsdb.com. Dinner cost is $30.

Location: The Iron Hill Brew Pub, 1460Bethlehem Pike, North Wales, PA.

Directions: The Iron Hill Brew Pub islocated in the Shops at English Villageshopping center. The shopping center islocated at the northeast corner of Route 309(Bethlehem Pike) and Welsh Rd.

three years in a row should not berenominated for the fourth year in successionwithout prior consultation by the nominatorwith the chair of the Awards Committee.

Nomination forms are available from theSection Office. Contact the AdministrativeSecretary, Mrs. Libby Harper at:

Philadelphia Section, ACSDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA 19104-6323(215) 382-1589; email PhilaACS@aol.comThe completed packet of nomination

materials should consist of 9 COMPLETESETS, and should be sent by April 3rd, 2006to Dr. David J. Cichowicz, Chair, AwardsCommittee, at the section office addressabove.

576th BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETINGWednesday, November 9 th, 2005

Chemical Heritage Center

This is the edited version of the minutes. Afull copy of the minutes can be obtained fromthe Section Office.

Board Members Present: C . Bentzley,C.J. Bruner, C. Carr, D. Cook, E. Davis, A. De-Masi, D. Kilmartin, G. Molander, K. Shaginaw,T. Straub, V. Tortorelli, D. Voet.

Also: L. Harper, H. Whalen, K. Hunt.Excused: M. Cichowicz, B. Baker, F. Good-

son, J. Nikelly, G. Preti, J. Summers-Gates.Absent: R. Acchione.Chair Cook called the meeting to order at

4:05 PM.OFFICERS' REPORTS:ChairD. Cook reported that the Delaware Valley

Science Council requests support for 2006:$350. V. Tortorelli suggested that this couldbe supported out of this year’s funds if it wouldhelp next year’s budget.

Chair-ElectD. Kilmartin reported on the leadership

conference she attended in Memphis.SecretaryBoard members who have missed several

consecutive meetings were noted.TreasurerReport was reviewed and accepted.COMMITTEE REPORTS:Finance Budget and Audit CommitteeC.J. Bruner reported for G. Cowperthwaite.

The Committee has received three requests forline items to date.

National Chemistry WeekA. DeMasi reported on the Section’s events.

The Graduate School forum was a success with120 students and 22 universities participating.

Kids in Chemistry: D. Kilmartin did oneevent with 250 children at Neshaminy MiddleSchool, and a few others schools with smallernumbers of students.

K. Shaginaw reported that the Expand YourHorizons program was a success with 114 girlsfrom 34 schools.

Teller's CommitteeT. Straub announced that changes in Alternate

Councilors are needed. J. Summers-Gates needsto be reappointed as she is currently serving aone-year term. M. Prushan, next in number ofvotes, should replace J. Currano who was electedto a three-year term but is already serving atwo-year term. The Board approved these

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TECHNICAL EDITOR

Seeking Part- or Full-time EmploymentOver 20 years’ experience:• Editing and producing grant and

contract reports and proposals• Preparing manuscripts for journal

submission• Desktop publishingContact Robin Davis, rsdavis59@ excite.com

DELAWARE VALLEY SCIENCEFAIRS

The Delaware Valley Science Fairs will becoming up shortly. Judges and mentors arealways needed. Check the websitewww.dvsf.org for more information and tovolunteer.

changes. The director’s term for Allen Templetonwas reported incorrectly. He will be serving from2006-2007.

OTHER BUSINESS:V. Tortorelli requested $700 to support the

Student Research Conference in April 2006. Amotion to approve this fund passed unan-imously.

C. Bentzley requested funds for the StudentAffiliates to support their November meeting atUSIP. A motion was made that the Board directStacy Gibbs to release up to $100 from theYounger Chemists Committee budget to supportthe ACS student chapter November event at USIP.Passed unanimously.

K. Shaginaw had forwarded to the SectionOffice information that the Trenton Sectionhad used electronic balloting for their lastelection. T. Straub will check with the chair ofthe Trenton Section about their procedures.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.Respectfully submitted,Carol CarrSecretary

BOOK REVIEWAlan Warren

Biocatalysts and Enzyme Technology byKlaus Buchhholz, Volker Kasche, and UweT. Bornscheuer. Soft covers, perfect bound,6 ∫ by 9 ˚ inches, 448 plus xviii pages, inEnglish, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, Germany2005, ISBN 3-527-30497-5, $90.

This is an expanded and updated version inEnglish of the original German editionpublished 10 years ago. An introductorychapter reviews the history of enzymetechnology followed by a discussion on theessential basics of enzymes as biocatalysts.

Further chapters deal with enzymes in or-ganic chemistry; their production and purifi-cation; their applications in solution; theirimmobilization; microorganisms and cells;characterization of immobilized biocatalysts;and reactors and processes utilizing biocatalysts.

One appendix provides some pointers onkeeping abreast of biotechnology informationand another defines symbols used throughoutthe book. Literature references appear at theend of each chapter and a subject indexconcludes the book. Text and illustrationsare excellent.

MARM 2006 SPOTLIGHT

Single Molecule Spectroscopy for

Early Diagnosis of Disease

MARM 2006 ishonored to have Pro-fessor Edward S. Yeungfrom Iowa StateUniversity presenting alecture as one of theinvited plenary speak-ers.His research, whichfocuses on the

identification, development, evaluation, andapplication of new measurement concepts,has led to the discovery of new analyticaltechniques in nonlinear spectroscopy, laser-based detectors, capillary electrophoresis,trace gas monitoring, single-cell and single-molecule analysis, DNA sequencing, anddata treatment procedures in chemicalmeasurements. His contributions tochemistry have been recognized by numerousawards, including the ACS Division ofAnalytical Chemistry Award in ChemicalInstrumentation and the Pittsburgh AnalyticalChemistry Award.

Reaching the ultimate level in microscalespectroscopy, Dr. Yeung’s presentation willdetail how single molecules can be detectedusing a novel laser-imaging system. Themethod provides the ability to look at thechemical constituents within a single humancell, which has important applications to theearly diagnosis of diseases.

MARM 2006 will be held in Hershey, PA,June 4-7, 2006. For more information visit usat http://www.marm2006.org.

MARM 2006 SPOTLIGHTChocolate - Food of the Gods

MARM 2006 promises to be an enjoyable and informative meetingwith Dr. Howard and Sally Peters presenting an invited plenarylecture during the Sunday science education day. Dr. Peters hasdevoted himself to the advancement of chemistry in our worldthrough numerous years of service in ACS governance and as achemical attorney. An appropriate presentation for a chemistrymeeting in “Chocolate Town” - the Peters will provide insight into thehistory of chocolate from the Mayan and Aztec cultures to the present, thechemistry and biochemistry of theobroma cocoa, and the currently

circulating urban legends about chocolate. Over the years, Dr. Peters has presented this talk andothers about the history of chemistry as part of his efforts to get more people excited aboutchemistry and to inform current chemists of how chemistry relates to everyone’s life.

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EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS

Pictures from the National Chemistry Week “Expand Your Horizons” program for sixth-grade girlsheld at Chestnut Hill College on October 22nd. Dr. Catherine Hunt of Rohm and Haas Company wasthe keynote speaker.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE ACS SPRING NATIONAL MEETING

Housing reservations and early registration are now open for the Spring ACS NationalMeeting to be held in Atlanta, GA, March 26 – 30, 2006. Take advantage of the lower ratefor early meeting registrants.

The technical program went online January 30th: check the workshops, events, and specialprograms you want to attend and order tickets when you register for the meeting.

Visit www.chemistry.org and click on national meetings in the left column. On the nationalmeetings page, click on Atlanta Georgia meeting in the left column. All the information youwill need to make the most of your national meeting experience is listed on this page.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONSThe Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC) invites all local sections to submit

proposals by March 1st, for the first 2006 review cycle to receive an Innovative ProjectsGrant. These grants support local sections undertaking innovative programs or activities—projects which are either new to the section or creative enhancements to an existing program. In particular, activities that promote local section and division interaction or interactionbetween multiple local sections are encouraged. Local sections may request funding up to$3,000, but funding cannot be used for hardware purchases or major equipment, honoraria,stipends, alcoholic beverages, or food (except for snacks). Approved projects will receivefunding by June in order for sections to initiate projects in the first half of 2006. Only oneproject per local section will be funded per fiscal year.

To apply for an Innovative Projects Grant, visit the website at http://chemistry.org/localsections where complete instructions and a template for the brief proposal (limited to2 pages) are available. The website also includes a link to a list of some previously fundedprojects to help stimulate your thinking.

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ACS 24, 25, 26, 30, 31Chemir Analytical Services 31Chemo Dynamics LP 27Desert Analytics 30DuPont Analytical Solutions 32Eastern Analytical Symposium 18Gateway Chemical Technology 31Huffman Laboratories 30MASS VAC, Inc. 24Micron Inc. 30NuMega Resonance Labs, Inc. 30PTI Research, Inc. 30Robertson Microlit Labs, Inc. 29Schwarzkopf Microanalytical 30Scientific Bindery 31Tyger Scientific Inc. 30

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PHILADELPHIA SECTION, ACS 2006 CALENDAR OF EVENTS