Dr. James A. Miranda

Contact Information
Title:	Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Office Hours:	Wednesday 9 am to 11 am/Thursday 1 pm to 2 pm Sequoia Hall Room 420
E-mail:	miranda@csus.edu
Office Phone:	(916) 278-6189
Mailing Address:	Sacramento State, Department of Chemistry 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819-6057

Courses

Chem 20 Organic Chemistry Lecture-Brief Course(Fall 2009)
Chem 24 Organic Chemistry Lecture I (Fall 2009)
Chem 20L Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Fall 2009)
Chem 25 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (Fall 2009)
Complete Course Websites are available on SacCT
I am actively recruiting undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in participating in research in the exciting field of organic chemistry. Please contact me at miranda@csus.edu. For more information, see the Research section.

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of California Santa Barbara (2006)
M.S. Chemistry, California State University Fresno (2001)
B.S. Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1996)

Our research interest primarily lies in developing new methodology for the organic synthesis of biologically active molecules. Usually these complex molecules are not only important in medicinal chemistry as therapeutic agents, but are also interesting from a structural point of view. We also seek to understand the mechanism of these important new reactions. A typical researcher in my group can expect to gain experience in a great variety of organic chemistry laboratory techniques as well as gain valuable experience in the common spectroscopic methods available to the organic chemist (NMR, IR, GC/MS, HPLC, cyclic voltammetry, etc...).

Mechanistic investigations into catalytic nickel (II) salen electroreductive cyclization reactions (for more info see---Miranda, J.A.; Wade, C.J.; Little, R.D. “Indirect Electroreductive Cyclization and Electrohydrocyclization Using Catalytic Reduced Nickel (II) Salen”, J. Org. Chem., 2005, 70(20), 8017.)

ERC

Catalytic ERC

We are investigating polymer supported vanadium complexes as potential catalysts for the epoxidation of organic substrates. We are currently exploring the scope of this reaction and working on optimizing the conditions of the reaction as well.

We are currently working with the Gherman group here at CSUS on using computational chemistry to predict the experimental reduction potential of various metal-salen complexes. The predicted reduction potentials can then be used to determine if the metal-salen complex can participate in mediated electroreductive cyclization reactions. Our contribution to this project is to synthesize a series of metal-salen compounds with various metal centers (Ni, Co, Cu, etc...) and various groups (electron-withdrawing or electron donating) on the aromatic rings.

Vinylcyclopropane radical cyclization-fragmentation. We are exploring a novel route towards eight-membered rings, such as those found in the anti-tumor compound paclitaxel (shown). For more information please see: Miranda, J.A.; Little, R.D. "Investigation of Vinylcyclopropane Monoradical Cyclization-Fragmentation as a Possible Route towards Eight-Membered Rings" Heterocycles, 2006, 70, 169 - 175.

Vinylcyclopropane

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Last updated: 09/04/2009