Dr. Clower's Research Page

If you are interested in working with Dr. Clower on any of the projects listed below, contact her at carolineclower@clayton.edu. The amount of course credit given (3222/4222) and the pre-requisite requirements for participation will vary depending on the nature of the project. See Dr. Clower for details. 

Research interests:

Chemical Education:
I am currently mentoring internship projects in Organic, Biochemistry, or Medicinal Chemistry. Examples of student projects include developing and teaching a lab experiment or lab practical, development of cross-disciplinary labs (e.g. organic chemistry and microbiology) or development of an instructional webpage, course material, or activity.  

Photochemistry:
My research interests lie in the general areas of photochemistry and physical organic chemistry. In particular, I study proton-transfer reactions of hydroxyarene compounds in the excited state. Previous research projects included the investigation of the dynamics of photoacids (a series of synthesized derivatives of 2-naphthol or hydroxyquinoline N-oxides) in microheterogeneous conditions using both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. The effects of additional cyano, aminomethyl, maleimide, or perfluoroalkanesulfonyl substituents were studied in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions, as well as at polymer-water and protein-water interfaces.

Publications:

J. Braun, C. Clower, P. Todebush. Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory Manual.  Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007.

C. Kodani, J. Boudell, J. Braun, C. Clower, J. Jordan, J. Liberatore, R. McFarlane, P. Todebush.  "Group Size Can Affect Field Trip Effectiveness." Georgia Science Teacher, 2006.

K. M. Solntsev, C. Clower, J. Kowalik, L. M. Tolbert, and D. Huppert. "6- Hydroxyquinoline-N-oxides: A New Class of . "Super" Photoacids," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 8534-8544.

C. Clower, K. M. Solntsev, J. Kowalik, L. M. Tolbert, and D. Huppert. "Photochemistry of "Super" Photoacids. 3. Excited-State Proton Transfer from Perfluoroalkylsulfonyl- Substituted 2-Naphthols." J. Phys. Chem. A., 2002, 106(13), 3114-3122.

C. Clower. "Proton Transfer Dynamics of Novel Photoexcited Hydroxyarenes." Doctoral Thesis, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002.

R. A. Orwoll, R. M. Bakhshi, K. D. Bakhshi, K. M. Morgan, C. Clower, R. E. Ward. "Dipole Moments, Densities, and Thermal Expansion Coefficients of N-substituted Phthalimides." Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, March 2000, 219(2), 419.

J. Kowalik, D. VanDerveer, C. Clower, and L. M. Tolbert. "Hydrogen Bonding and Cooperativity Effects on the Assembly of Alkyl- and Perfluoroalkyl-sulfonyl Naphthols: F…F Non-bonded Interactions." Chemical Communications, 1999, (19), 2007.

C. Clower, J. Kowalik, L. M. Tolbert. "Excited-state proton transfer from 6-perluorohexanesulfonyl-2-naphthol." Abstracts Of Papers Of The American Chemical Society, 1998, 216(2), 141.

Presentations:

C. Clower, J. R. Braun, P. M. Todebush. "Charles's Law: Too Difficult for Today's Students?" Division of Chemical Education: 231^st American Chemical Society National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, March 2006.

C. Clower, K. M. Solntsev, J. Kowalik, and L. M. Tolbert. "Excited-State Kinetics of 'Super' Photoacids: 6-Perfluorohexanesulfonyl-2-naphthol and 6-Cyano-2-naphthol." First Annual Harold Nations Seminars in Chemistry: Frontiers in Photochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, May 1999

C. Clower, J. Kowalik, and L. M. Tolbert. “New Developments in Excited-State Proton Transfer from 6-Perfluorohexanesulfonyl-2-naphthol.” Division of Organic Chemistry: 216^th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, August 1998.

C. Clower, J. Kowalik, and L. M. Tolbert. “New Developments in Excited-State Proton Transfer from 6- Perfluorohexanesulfonyl-2-naphthol.” XVII IUPAC Symposium on Photochemistry, Sitges, Spain, July 1998.

C. Clower, J. Kowalik, and L. M. Tolbert. “Excited-State Proton Transfer from 6-Perfluorohexanesulfonyl-2-naphthol.” Fifth Chemical Congress of North America, Cancun, Mexico, November 1997.