Zachary Wood


Zachary Wood
  • 2017 Beckman Program Scholar
  • Ph.D. Candidate at University of Southern California

Biography

Zachary Wood is from Eureka, MO where he attended Eureka High School. In November of 2015, Zach joined Professor Misha Barybin’s research laboratory where he has been engaged in undergraduate research at the interface of organometallic and materials branches of chemistry.  As a Beckman Scholar, Zach will work toward gaining important quantitative insight into tuning electronic characteristics of organometallic molecular wires with the goal of designing new nanoscale materials relevant to applications in organic electronics. He graduated in 2019 with a BS in chemistry and is currently a graduate student at the University of Southern California. 

Education

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Kansas, 2019, Lawrence, KS
University Honors, Departmental Honors

Selected Publications

From University of Kansas

Hart, M.D; Meyers, J.J Jr.; Wood, Z.A.; Nakakita, T.; Applegate, J.C; Erickson, N.R; Gerasimchuk, N.N; Barybin M.V.; "Tuning π-acceptor/σ-donor ratio of the 2-isocyanoazulene ligand: non-fluorinated rival of pentafluorophenyl isocyanide and trifluorovinyl isocyanide discovered" Molecules2021, 26(4), 981. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MH01286F

 

From University of Southern California

Wood, Z. A.;† Assefa, M. K.;† Fieser, M. E. Simple yttrium salts as highly active and controlled catalysts for the atom-efficeint synthesis of high molecular weight polyester Chem. Sci. 2022, 13, 10437 – 10447. †Authors contributed equally to this work (https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC02745C)

Wood, Z. A.; Fieser, M. E. Understanding differences in rate versus product determining steps to enhance sequence control in epoxide/cyclic anhydride copolymers Polym. Chem. 2023, 14, 821 – 827. (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3PY00048F)

Wood, Z. A.; Ohanyan, A†.; Guerrero, A. †; Assefa, M. A.; Fieser, M. E. Understanding Lewis Acidity Trends in Copolymerization of Epoxides and Cyclic Anhydrides. In preparation. †Authors contributed equally to this work.

Cheng-Tan, M. D.; Nguyen, A.; Gordon, C. T.; Wood, Z. A.; Fieser, M. E. Choline Halide-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents as Biocompatible Catalysts for the Synthesis of Diverse Polyesters In Preparation.

Wood, Z. A.; Castro, E.; Assefa, M. A.; Fieser, M. E. Scope and limitations for upcycling of poly(vinyl chloride) enabled by silylium catalysis In Preparation.

Wood, Z. A.; Kosloski-Oh, S. C.; Fieser, M. E. Back to the Basics: Simplifying Metal Catalysts for Rapid Polymerization without Sacrificing Control Invited Perspective In Preparation for Chemical Science.

Kosloski-Oh, S.C.; Wood, Z.A.; Manjarrez, Y.; de los Rios, J.P.; Fieser, M.E. "Catalytic methods for chemical recycling of commercial polymers" Mater. Horiz., 2021, 8(4), 1084-1129. This paper received the Materials Horizons Outstanding Review Award and was noted as one of the 2021 Materials Horizons most popular articles.

Selected Presentations

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, , M. D.; Meyers, J. J; Gerasimchuk, N.; Barybin, M. V. “Exerting extreme π-acidity of organic isocyanide ligands: A nonfluorinated rival of C6H5NC has been discoveredExerting extreme π-acidity of organic isocyanide ligands: A nonfluorinated rival of C6H5NC has been discovered” Beckman Symposium, Irvine CA, August 2018 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, , M. D.; Meyers, J. J; Gerasimchuk, N.; Barybin, M. V. “Exerting extreme π-acidity of organic isocyanide ligands: A nonfluorinated rival of C6H5NC has been discovered” 256th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 2018 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M. D.; Meyers, J. J; Gerasimchuk, N.; Barybin, M. V. “Exerting extreme π-acidity of isocyanoazulene ligands through cyanation of the azulenic scaffold” KU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Lawrence, KS, April 2018 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M. D.; Meyers, J. J; Gerasimchuk, N.; Barybin, M. V. “Exerting extreme π-acidity of isocyanoazulene ligands through cyanation of the azulenic scaffold” 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 18, 2018 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M.D.; J.C. Erickson, N. R.; Barybin, M. V. “Probing charge delocalization in low-valent organometallic platforms featuring the isocyanide junction via a new 13C NMR approach,” 52nd Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS, October, 2017 (talk).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M. D.; Barybin, M. V. “Assessing the scope and limitations of a new 13C NMR approach to probing charge delocalization in electron rich organometallics featuring the isocyanide junction unit,” 254th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 2017 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M.D.; Barybin, M. V. “Assessing the scope and limitations of a new 13C NMR approach to probing charge delocalization in electron rich organometallics featuring the isocyanide junction unit,” Summer Undergraduate Research Poster Session, Lawrence, KS, July 28, 2017 (poster).

Wood, Z.A.; Hart, M.D.; Barybin, M. V. “Assessing the scope and limitations of a new 13C NMR approach to probing charge delocalization in electron rich organometallics featuring the isocyanide junction unit,” REU Research Progress Symposium, Lawrence, KS, July 26, 2017 (talk).

Awards & Honors

University of Southern California

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 2021 (Honorable Mention)

USC Wrigley Institute 2021 Sonosky Sustainability Summer Fellow

University of Kansas

Graduation with University Honors and Chemistry Department Honors

May 2019

Wakarusa Valley Local ACS Section "Top Graduating Senior" Award

May 2019

Robert D. Talty Scholarship, KU Chemistry Department

April 2018

KU Barry M. Goldwater Scholar Honorable Mention

2018

Outstanding Presentation Award, KU Undergraduate Research Symposium

April 2018