Dawood Afzal

Professor of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4642
(660) 785-4045 (fax)
afzal@truman.edu

To access Dr. Afzal's personal homepage with expanded course and research information, click here.

Education

• B.Sc.(Hons), University of Dhaka
• M.S., Vanderbilt University
• Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
• Post-Doc., University of Chicago
• Sabbatical/Visiting research fellow: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Penn State University, University of Iowa

Courses Taught

• Chemistry for Contemporary Living
• Organic Chemistry I
• Organic Chemistry Lab I
• Organic Chemistry II
• Organic Chemistry Lab II
• Organic Chemistry (Super) Lab
• Senior Chemistry Seminar
• Advanced Organic Chemistry
• Advanced NMR
• JINS course [scheduled for 2003] "Origin of Life"

Research Interests

My research interests are in several areas covering a wide range of topics. These include:

1. Macrocyclic chemistry especially chemistry of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins. This research focuses on the syntheses, structure and study of reaction chemistry of the previously mentioned molecules.
2. Synthesis of layered compounds, especially metal oxide perovskites using high temperature solid state reaction. These perovskites have potential application as catalysts, semiconductors, magneto-resistive substances.
3. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic study of compounds to understand their chemical structure and also to monitor chemical reactions.
4. Transition metal organometallic chemistry. In this area the focus is on developing new synthetic methodology and explore new chemistry of transition metal compounds as well as their application in organic syntheses.

Students have a wonderful opportunity to have hands on experience with a wide range of synthetic techniques and equipment in my research projects. My research lab has a wide range of dedicated equipment for specialized chemical synthesis. These include:

1. Inert atmosphere glove box for manipulation of air and moisture sensitive compounds under dry nitrogen atmosphere.
2. Schelenk lines and high vacuum lines.
3. High temperature furnaces [2 muffle furnace and a tube furnace]
4. Sonochemical equipment for carrying reactions with ultrasound.
5. Explosion proof fridge.
6. Specialized Schlenk glassware.

In addition, I routinely use spectroscopic techniques such a Uv-vis , IR and NMR. I also use X-ray diffraction analysis for my research.