Welcome
Dr. Florence J. Williams
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Iowa
Chemistry Building, W285
(319) 384-1319 / florence-williams[at]uiowa.edu
- B.S. New York University (2006)
- Ph. D. University of California - Irvine (2011)
- PDF Princeton University (2012-2015)
- Assistant Professor, University of Alberta (2016-2019)
Florence has a diverse background of scientific experience, beginning with her work with Prof. Marc Walters at New York University on gadolinium based MRI contrast agents, as well as iron redox catalysts. Following her transition to graduate school at University of California, Irvine, Florence worked with Prof. Elizabeth Jarvo, where she studied the catalytic abilities of rhodium, palladium, and nickel based complexes to create new C-C, C-O and C-N bonds. In particular, she studied the addition of carbon-based nucleophiles to carbonyl-derived substrates, as well as sp3-sp3 carbon-carbon cross-coupling. Departing from organometallic catalysis, Florence chose to work for Prof. Dorothea Fiedler in the area of chemical biology. Among her projects, Florence developed a fluorescent reagent capable of detecting proteins and peptides which had been pyrophosphorylated. This reagent can be applied to in-gel visualization, allowing for a straightforward method of analysis.
Florence is excited to combine all of the fundamental skills she has developed over her training and apply them towards improving chemical tools for the analysis of cellular behaviors.
Projects
Boron Triiodide-Mediated Reduction of Nitroarenes
The reduction of nitroarenes using BI3 (generated in situ using KBH4 and I2) is described in our recent publication. Conditions were optimized for BI3 generation and then applied to a wide range of nitroarenes, including traditionally challenging substrates. The method constitutes a practical reduction option which produces low-toxicity boric acid and potassium iodide upon workup. Check it out here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03257
C-F bond cleavage
We are pursuing the use of boron Lewis acids as instigators of C-F bond cleavage. C–F bond halogen exchange can be accomplished using Lewis acidic boron reagents which offers numerous synthetic possibilities.
Check out our recent review on C-F bond halogen exchange reactions featuring our group’s advances in activating CF3 groups using boron trihalides:
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1941-2205
Boron-mediated Organic Transformations
Our boron-mediated chemistry involves using the strong coordinating and activating characteristics of boron Lewis acids to cleave alkyl C–O bonds and to coordinate to oxygenated functionality for directed transformations. Boron Lewis acids are typically non-toxic after simple aqueous workup and are easily removed from the final product, making them attractive reagents.
Check out our recent publications in this area:
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06206
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.8b02356https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040402019301474
Neurotrophic Small Molecules
As neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease increase in prevalence around the world, new strategies to halt or reverse disease progression are desperately needed. We are investigating the mechanism of neurotrophic (definintion: promoting the proliferation, growth or survival of neuron cells) small molecules in order to provide new insights into pathways of resistance to brain tissue degredation. It is our hope that such insights may light the way for new, more effective, therapeutic strategies.
Group Members
Ashley Schneider
PhD Candidate (7th year)
Ashley is from a small, quiet hometown in Wisconsin. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2018. During her undergraduate career, she pursued research under her Professor Nathan Bowling where she investigated fundamentals of halogen bonding before being given hints to continue to graduate school. After graduation, she was accepted to the graduate program at the University of Iowa where she joined the Williams group in 2019. When not in the lab, she can be found reading, doing all sorts of art, creating costumes, or practicing taekwondo.
Piyumi Wijesirigunawardana
PhD Candidate (6th year)
Piyumi was born and raised in Sri Lanka. She acquired her B.S in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Colombo Sri Lanka in 2017. During her undergraduate career, she pursued research under Dr. Gayani Perera where she developed a medicinal cotton smart textile using microencapsulation technology. After graduation, she worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Colombo. Then, she was accepted to the graduate Chemistry program at the University of Iowa where she joined the Williams group in 2019.
Andrej Ćorković
PhD Candidate (5th year)
Andrej was born in Germany and moved to northern Illinois before the age of 5. He received his B.A. in Chemistry from Grinnell College in 2018. During his undergraduate career, he worked with Professor Erick Leggans where he attempted to synthesize Teixobactin analogues. After graduation, he spent 2 years working as a medical scribe in an ER before committing to the University of Iowa’s Chemistry graduate program and joined the Williams group in 2020. When not in lab, he enjoys playing/watching soccer and basketball, gaming, and watching anime.
Theodora Leventis
PhD Candidate (5th year)
Theodora is from Rolla, Missouri. Proud of her corn land heritage, she obtained her B.S. in chemistry and minor in mathematics at the University of Missouri-Columbia and now is a graduate student at UIowa working in the Williams research lab – she is Florence, and Theodora is The Machine. Her work involves using boron Lewis acids to cleave strong dialkyl C-O bonds. While waiting for her reactions to go to completion, Theodora enjoys baking sweets and then eating them all at once, hiking through corn, reading, and daydreaming. After the Tundra months, Theodora is often spotted on her longboard and listening to music.
Thomas Chiarella
PhD Candidate (4th year)
Thomas is from South Brunswick Township, New Jersey. He received his B.S. in chemistry at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in December 2020. While in undergrad, he experimented with the lithium-halogen exchange of a brominated thiophene derivative. After graduation, he interned at Adesis Inc.-a small CRO company in New Castle, Delaware before coming to the
University of Iowa in August 2021. Outside of the lab, he enjoys fishing, hiking, playing card and board games, listening to rock music, and watching Breaking Bad.
Heather Koska
PhD Candidate (4th year)
Heather is originally from a small Illinois suburb. She attended Loyola University Chicago where she majored in Chemistry and minored in Meme Page Management (just kidding about the latter, unfortunately). While at LUC, she pursued research under Professor James Devery III pertaining to Lewis acid catalyzed carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions. After graduating in 2021, she enrolled at the University of Iowa where she joined the Williams lab in the Spring semester of 2022. Besides organic chemistry, Heather enjoys dance, painting, saying “sorry for being the rate-limiting step” when she is holding up a group, reading, and learning random new skills.
Idowu Otunomo
PhD Student (3rd year)
Idowu is from Nigeria. She obtained her Master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
After graduation, she was employed as a Chemistry Lecturer in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2019, she was awarded a research grant from the University of Nigeria to South Africa. She worked on Extraction, isolation and bioactivity of plant extract in collaboration with Prof. O. T. Asekun (University of Lagos) and Prof. Tom Ashafa (University of the Free State, South Africa).
Currently, her interests lie in the synthesis of organic compounds.
Idowu also enjoys reading, playing games and having nice time with her family.
Iman Ghaderi
PhD Student (2nd year)
Iman comes from Juybar, famously known as the wrestling capital of Iran. He earned his M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Shiraz University in 2016, where he worked under the guidance of Prof. H. Sharghi. His research focused on synthesizing a novel reusable heterogeneous copper nano-catalyst and studying its potential in various organic reactions. After being admitted to the graduate Chemistry program at the University of Iowa, Iman joined the Williams group in 2024. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys various activities, including swimming, working out, mountain climbing, hiking, playing football and cards, listening to music, and exploring the beauty of nature.
Sreya Roy
PhD Student (2nd year)
Sreya grew up in Kolkata, India and then moved 8,000 miles away from home to receive her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry from Monmouth College, IL. Her project revolves around investigating the application of cellulose in bone tissue engineering. Outside of lab, she likes to participate in choir and dance, along with exploring new destinations.
Group Alumni
Bishnu Neupane
Matthew Morris (REU)
Zain Kazmi (UAlberta)
Andreas Dorian (PhD)
Khyati Gohil (PhD)
Benjamin Hale (PDF)
Krystyn Dubicki (M.Sc.)
Ashley Ley (REU)
Hannah Saunderman (Undergrad)
Parijat Tripathi (Undergrad)
Princey Raju (PhD)
Jonah Curl (Undergrad)
Jared Ho (Undergrad)
Yifan Yang (Undergrad)
Luca Maiorana (Post Baccalaureate)
Nam Truong (M.Sc.)
Bren Atienza (PDF)
Brenden Kelly (Undergrad)
Benjamin Yeremey (Undergrad)
Isaac Zeer-Wanklyn (Undergrad)
Daniella Hernandez (Undergrad)
Lenny Lin (Undergrad)
Rei Chee (Undergrad)
