Dr. Ali Siamaki

• Heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis
• Metal nanoparticles synthesis and characterization
• Metal catalyzed reactions including cross coupling reactions
• Microwave and continuous flow reactions

Our research interests focus on preparation of novel heterogeneous nanoparticles for synthetic applications and entail the areas of organic synthesis and organometallic catalysis. In particular, we will develop synthetic methods to prepare transition metal nanoparticles (e.g. Pd, Ni, Cu, Co, etc.) deposited on different solid supports and investigate the potential catalytic activity and recyclability of these nanoparticles in variety of chemical processes including C-C bond forming reactions.

We aim to develop a fundamental understanding of how structure, particle size, distribution and shape of these nanocatalysts influence their recyclability and catalytic activity.

Furthermore, we explore the effect of functionalization of the solid support on the level of dispersion of these nanomaterials in solution to improve and enhance the relevant catalytic activity.

This project creates opportunity for students (graduates and undergraduates) to develop skills in design, synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and gain expertise in using a variety of characterization techniques including SEM, TEM, FT-IR and XRD. We will develop the necessary conditions for these reactions, evaluate the efficiency, and investigate the reusability of these nanocatalysts. Research will be conducted in three main areas:

1. Preparation of solid supported transition metal nanoparticles using different reduction methods in the presence of appropriate reducing agents. The as-prepared metal nanoparticles will be characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
2. The solid supported metal nanoparticles prepared in previous step will be used as a potential catalyst for variety of C-C cross coupling reactions such as Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira coupling reactions. We will develop the necessary conditions for these reactions, evaluate the efficiency, and investigate the reusability of these nanocatalysts.
3. We design to implement microwave irradiation as an alternative, convenient, clean, and efficient heating source for chemical reactions. We will further investigate the application of metal nanoparticles for cross coupling reactions under continuous flow reaction conditions.

Journal Publications:

• Katherine A. Wilson, Lacey A. Picinich and Ali R. Siamaki, Nickel–palladium bimetallic nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes; versatile catalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 7818-7827, DOI: 1039/D3RA00027C.
• Sojeong K. Folsom, Destiny J. Ivey, Frank S. McNair and Ali R. Siamaki, Nickel-Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes: Effective Catalyst in Suzuki Cross Coupling Reactions. Catalysts, 2021, 11, 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11040495
• A. Elazab, A. Siamaki, B. Frank Gupton, M. Samy El-Shall, Pd-Fe3O4/RGO: a highly active and magnetically recyclable catalyst for suzuki cross coupling reaction using a microfluidic flow reactor. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering and Catalysis, 2019, 14, 478-489.
• Hany A. Elazab, Sherif Moussa, Ali R. Siamaki, B. Frank Gupton, M. Samy El‑Shall, Catal. Lett., 2017, 147, 1510-1522. The Effect of Graphene on Catalytic Performance of Palladium Nanoparticles Decorated with Fe3O4, Co3O4, and Ni(OH)2: Potential Efficient Catalysts Used for Suzuki Cross Coupling
• Sarah E. Smith, Ali R. Siamaki, B. Frank Gupton and Everett E. Carpenter, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 91541-91545. CuPd nanoparticles as a catalyst in carbon-carbon cross-coupling reactions by a facile oleylamine synthesi
• Hany El Azab, Ali R. Siamaki, Sherif Moussa, B. Frank Gupton, M. Samy El-Shall, Applied Catalysis A: General; 2015, 491, 58-69. Highly Efficient and Magnetically Recyclable Graphene-Supported Pd/Fe3O4 Nanoparticle Catalysts for Suzuki and Heck Cross-Coupling Reactions
• Sudha Korwar, Kendra Brinkley, Ali R. Siamaki, B. Frank Gupton, and Keith C. Ellis, Organic Letters, 2015, 17, 1782-1785. Selective N-Chelation-Directed C-H Activation Reactions Catalyzed by Pd(II) Nanoparticles supported on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
• Ali R. Siamaki, Yi Lin, Kendra Woodberry, John W. Connell, B. Frank Gupton Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2013, 1, 12909. Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotubes from Solventless Preparations: Versatile Catalysts for Ligand-Free Suzuki Cross Coupling Reactions
• Sherif Moussa, Ali R. Siamaki, M. Samy El-Shall and B. Frank Gupton, ACS Catalysis 2012, 2, 145-154. Pd-PRGO Catalysts: Laser Synthesis of Pd Nanoparticles Supported On Partially Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets for Carbon-Carbon Cross Coupling Reactions
• Ali R. Siamaki, Abd El Rahman S. Khder, Victor Abdalsayed, M. Samy El-Shall and B. Frank Gupton, Journal of Catalysis 2011, 279, 1-11, (Awarded the top cited article in 2011-2012 certificate by the Journal of Catalysis). Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene; A Highly Active and Recyclable Catalyst for Carbon-Carbon Cross Coupling Reactions
• David C. Leitch, Zhi-Yong Han, Laure V. Kayser, Ali R. Siamaki, Evan N. Keyzer, Ashley Gefen, Bruce A. Arndtsen, Nature Communications, 2015, 6, 7411. Metal Catalyzed Multicomponent Coupling Approach to Conjugated Polyheterocycle Synthesis
• Alex D. Martin, Ali R. Siamaki, Katherine Belecki, B. Frank Gupton, Journal of Flow Chemistry, 2015, Ahead of Print. A Flow-based Synthesis of Telmisartan
• Alex D. Martin, Ali R. Siamaki, Katherine Belecki, and B. Frank Gupton, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 80, 1915-1919. A Convergent Approach to the Total Synthesis of Telmisartan via a Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction between Two Functionalized Benzimidazoles
• Ali R. Siamaki, Marc Sakalauskas and Bruce A. Arndtsen; Angewandte Chemistry International Edition in English, 2011, 50, 6552. A Palladium-Catalyzed Multicomponent Coupling Approach to Conjugated Oligomers: Assembling Imidazole-Based Materials from Imines and Acyl Chlorides.

Conference Publications:

• Katherine Coker, Lacey Picinich, Ali R. Siamaki, Nickel-Palladium nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as an effective catalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. ACS Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM) October 2022, Rochester, NY. Poster
• Ali R. Siamaki, Katherine Coker, Lacey Picinich, Highly efficient and recyclable nickel-palladium bimetallic nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for copper-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. ACS Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM) October 2022, Rochester, NY. Oral Presentation
• Katherine A. Coker and Ali R. Siamaki, Synthesis of Indole Derivatives via Tandem Sonogashira-Cyclization Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene. Emerging Researcher National Conference in STEM, February 2023, Washington DC. Poster
• MaryKristy Eweama, Lacey Picinich, Hanna Paige, and Ali R. Siamaki, Amine-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Supported Palladium Nanoparticles in Buchwald-Hartwig Amination. Emerging Researcher National Conference in STEM, February 2023, Washington DC. Poster
• Katherine A. Coker, Ali R. Siamaki, Synthesis of indole derivatives via tandem Sonogashira-cyclization reactions catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles supported on graphene. ACS Meetings and Exposition Spring 2023, Indianapolis, IN. Poster
• Ali R. Siamaki, Katherine A. Coker, Lacey A. Picinich, Highly efficient and recyclable nickel-palladium bimetallic nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for copper-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. ACS Meetings and Exposition Spring 2023, Indianapolis, IN. Oral Presentation

Courses

CHEM 301 Introduction to Polymer Science

CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry I Lecture

CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry II Lecture

CHEM 223L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory

CHEM 225L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory

CHEM 105 Introduction to Chemical Principles

CHEM 105L Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory

CHEM 499 Chemistry Capstone

CHEM 161 General Chemistry II

CHEM 162 General Chemistry II Laboratory

Current Research Students:

Katherine Coker

Projects: Tandem Sonogashira/Cyclization to indoles, Cross coupling catalysis in continuous flow

MaryKristy Eweama

Project: Pd nanoparticles supported on functionalized CNTs for Carbon-Nitrogen bond forming reactions

Harlee Winkleman

Project: Suzuki cross coupling reactions in batch and continuous flow

Former Research Students:

Lacey Picinich
Hanna Paige
Andrea Schaible
Lisa Long
Nicole Robinson
Jessa Guffie
Destiny Ivey (Graduated in 2019
Christopher Livingstone (Graduated in 2019)
Frank McNair (Graduated in Spring 2016)
Kimberly West (Graduated in Fall 2017)
Sojeong Folsom (Graduated in Spring 2018)
Christopher Penister (Graduated in Spring 2018)

Students who are interested in gaining research experience in preparation, characterization, and application of transition metal nanoparticles in organic synthesis and catalysis, please contact Dr. Siamaki (asiamaki@uncfsu.edu).

October 1-5, 2022: Katherine Coker presented her research poster at ACS Northeast Meeting (NERM) in Rochester, NY.

Katherine Coker, Lacey Picinich, Ali R. Siamaki, Nickel-Palladium nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as an effective catalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, Great work!

February 9-11, 2023: Katherine Coker and MaryKristy Eweama presented their posters at Emerging Researcher National Conference in STEM. Excellent!

Katherine A. Coker and Ali R. Siamaki, Synthesis of Indole Derivatives via Tandem Sonogashira-Cyclization Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene

Mary Eweama, Lacey Picinich, Hanna Paige, and Ali R. Siamaki, Amine-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Supported Palladium Nanoparticles in Buchwald-Hartwig Amination

March 9, 2023: Congratulations to Katherine Coker (Wilson) and Lacey Picinich for their publication in RSC Advances.

Katherine A. Wilson, Lacey A. Picinich and Ali R. Siamaki, Nickel–palladium bimetallic nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes; versatile catalyst for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 7818-7827, DOI: 10.1039/D3RA00027C.

March 26-29, 2023: Katherine Coker presented her poster at ACS Meetings and Exposition Spring 2023 at Indianapolis, IN. Very Proud!

Katherine A. Coker, Ali R. Siamaki, Synthesis of indole derivatives via tandem Sonogashira-cyclization reactions catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles supported on graphene.

Synthesis of indole derivatives via tandem Sonogashira-cyclization reactions catalyzed by palladium nanoparticles supported on graphene | Poster Board #314

Katherine Coker, Presenter Ali Siamaki, Author
Division: [ORGN] Division of Organic Chemistry