Research in the Buchanan Group focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of organo-metal complexes for catalysis, energy, and medical applications.
The group is a highly collaborative and interested in 'non-innocent' ligands that participate in oxidation-reduction events, ligand modification/functionalization, and ligand-centered catalysis. The group regularly interacts and publishes with other research groups in chemistry, engineering, and medicine.
Our research uses a variety of techniques including ligand design and synthesis, inorganic synthesis including air-free techniques, spectroscopy (UV-vis, FT-IR, NMR, EPR), electrochemistry, x-ray crystallography, mechanistic investigations, and DFT computations.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the Buchanan Group develop a broad based and interdisciplinary approach to research and problem solving.
Students interested in undergraduate and graduate research positions should contact Professor Buchanan.
Research
Areas
Redox non-innocent ligands and metal complexes, polyimidazole ligands and metal complexes, NMR and EPR spectroscopy, magnetism, electrochemistry, molecular and heterogeneous catalysis, hydrogen evolution reaction and CO2 reduction reaction, drug discovery, development of Cu anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal compounds.
Citations: 4995
h-index: 39
i10-index: 65
Research Grants
& Patents
CHE-1800245 Buchanan (PI) /Gupta (Co-PI) 2018 – 2023 (no cost extension)
NSF-MPS “Thiosemicarbazone based materials a ligand-centered electrocatalysts: A new approach to hydrogen evolution“
U01 HL127518 Grapperhaus (PI)/Buchanan (Co-PI) 2019 – 2020
NIH-ExCITE
“Novel Molecules with Cancer-Selective Cytotoxicity”
The objective of this NIH-ExCITE award was to develop a small library of copper complexes into a potential new cancer drug through a collaboration of chemists, microbiologists and medical school scientists.
NIH-KYNETICS 2022
“Novel copper complexes as cancer-selective therapeutics”
The objective of this NIH-KYNETICS award is to develop novel copper complexes as treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our team has recently discovered a novel class of copper complexes with potent and highly cancer-selective cytotoxicity. We have been granted a patent covering the composition of matter and use of these complexes. Our studies point to a novel mechanism of action that explains the high selectivity for cancer cells compared to normal cells and predicts utility against advanced NSCLC.
Patents from these studies:
U.S. 11,142,835 is for a renewable and cost-effective pathway for industrial hydrogen (H2) production
U.S. 20210355064A1 is for methods for the reduction of CO2.
U.S. 11,208,379, is for compounds, composites, methods for treating diseases, and methods for preparing compounds.
Education
Western Maryland College (McDaniel College)
B.S. Chemistry
West Virginia University, WVA
M.S. Chemistry
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Ph.D. Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
Post-Doc Chemistry
Employment
2006 – 2020
Associate Dean for Research,
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
1993
Professor (w/tenure), Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
1988 – 1993
Associate Professor (w/tenure),
Department of Chemistry,
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
1982
Member of Graduate Faculty,
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
1982 – 1988
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY