Denise M. Junge

Research Interests
Volatile organic compounds (VOC's) are commonly used as solvents for industrial chemical reactions. Recently, ionic liquids have been emerging as novel replacements to VOC's due to their unique properties. Ionic liquids are liquids comprised entirely of ions that are environmentally benign, non-volatile, non-flammable, and inexpensive to manufacture. This project involves the synthesis of dendrimers that have ionic liquid properties. These systems may have a dramatic impact on the development of “green” chemical processes. By incorporating ionic liquid moieties into dendritic systems, the potential exists to design a new class of macromolecules capable of catalyzing various organic reactions.

Publications
“Photochromic Dendrimers Containing Six Azobenzenes,” Liao, L.-X.; Junge, D.M.; McGrath, D.V. Macromolecules. 2002, 35, 319.

“Synthesis and Chiroptical Analysis of Optically Active Chiral Shell Dendrons,” Junge, D.M.; Wu, M.-J.; McElhanon, J.R.; McGrath, D.V. J. Org. Chem. 2000, 65, 5306.

“Photoresponsive Azobenzene-Containing Dendrimers with Multiple Discrete States,” Junge, D.M.; McGrath, D.V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 4912.

“Driving Dendrimers with Light: Dendrimers with Azobenzene Central Linkers,” McGrath, D.V.; Junge, D.M. Macromol. Symp. 1999, 137, 57.

“Synthesis of Optically Active Chiral Shell Dendrons,” Junge, D.M.; McGrath, D.V. Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 1707.

“Photoresponsive Dendrimers,” Junge, D.M.; McGrath, D.V. Chem. Commun. 1997, 857.

“The Effect of Isolated Chirality on the Optical Activity of Chiral Dendrimers,” Junge, D.M.; McGrath, D.V. Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng. 1997, 77, 154.