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Veronica M. BIERBAUM
Office Phone: 303 492 7081
E-mail: Veronica.Bierbaum@colorado.edu
FAX: 303 492 5894
Lab: Cristol Chemistry 125
Lab Phone: 303 492 7396
Group Website:
Ph.D.: University of Pittsburgh, 1974
Gas Phase Ion Chemistry
Professor Bierbaum's research focuses on the development of new techniques in physical and organic chemistry and their application to studies of gas phase ion chemistry. These studies probe the kinetics, dynamics and thermochemistry of a wide variety of gas phase ion-molecule reactions which have fundamental importance as well as relevance to atmospheric and interstellar chemistry.
Two tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube instruments have been designed and constructed, one of which incorporates drift capabilities for the study of reactivity as a function of translational energy, as well as a new triple quadrupole detector for the structural and energetic characterization of gas phase ions. Current studies include nucleophilic substitution reactions (as a function of kinetic energy or microsolvation, deuterium kinetic isotope effects, competition with elimination processes), establishing the basicity and bond energies of many prototypical organic compounds (ethylene, benzene, propylene and toluene) and species of atmospheric interest (sulfur and peroxy compounds), employing isotopic labels to explore reaction mechanisms, and probing the chemistry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon cations, which have been proposed as carriers of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands.
Tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube with triple quad detector
Selected Publications
T. P. Snow and V. M. Bierbaum, “Ion Chemistry in the Interstellar Medium,” Annual Reviews of Analytical Chemistry, 1 (2008), in press.
S. Kato, G. B. Ellison, V. M. Bierbaum, and S. J. Blanksby, "Base-Induced Decomposition of Alkyl Hydroperoxides in the Gas Phase,” J. Phys. Chem. A (2008), in press.
T. Ichino, D. H. Andrews, G. J. Rathbone, F. Misaizu, R. M. D. Calvi, S. W. Wren, S. Kato, V. M. Bierbaum and W. C. Lineberger, “Ion Chemistry of 1H-1,2,3-Triazole,” J. Phys. Chem. B., 112, 545-557 (2008).
B. Eichelberger, T. P. Snow, C. Barckholtz, and V. M. Bierbaum, "Reactions of H, N, and O Atoms with Carbon Chain Anions of Interstellar Interest: An Experimental Study,” Astrophysical Journal, 667, 1283-1289 (2007).
N. Eyet, S. M. Villano, S. Kato, and V. M. Bierbaum, "Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effects in Microsolvated Gas-Phase E2 Reactions,” J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 18, 1046-1051 (2007).
N. Eyet and V. M. Bierbaum, "Gas-Phase Acidities of Thiocarboxylic Acids,” Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 265, 267-270 (2007).
X. Zhang, A. T. Maccarone, M. R. Nimlos, S. Kato, V. M. Bierbaum, G. B. Ellison, B. Ruscic, A. C. Simmonett, W. D. Allen, and H. F. Schaefer, "Unimolecular Thermal Fragmentation of ortho-benzyne," J. Chem. Phys., 126, 44312 1-20 (2007).
S. J. Blanksby, V. M. Bierbaum, G. B. Ellison, and S. Kato, “Superoxide Does React with Peroxides: Direct Observation of the Haber-Weiss Reaction in the Gas Phase,” Angewandte Chemie, 46, 4948-4950 (2007).
T. Ichino, A. J. Gianola, S. Kato, V. M. Bierbaum, and W. C. Lineberger, “Structure of the Vinyldiazomethyl Anion and Energetic Comparison to the Cyclic Isomers,” J. Phys. Chem. A., 111, 8374-8383 (2007)
S. M. Villano, A. J. Gianola, N. Eyet, T. Ichino, S. Kato, V. M. Bierbaum, and W. C. Lineberger, “Thermochemical Studies of N-Methylpyrazole and N-Methylimidazole,” J. Phys. Chem. A, 111, 8579-8587 (2007).
S. Kato, W. C. Lineberger, and V. M. Bierbaum, “Collision Induced Dissociation of Fluoropyridinide Anions,” Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 266, 166-179 (2007).
Affiliations
National Organizations:
+ American Society for Mass Spectrometry
(Secretary, Vice-President, President, and Past-President).
+ Council of Scientific Society Presidents.
+ American Chemical Society.
+ Phi Beta Kappa
Science Education:
+ PI for a three year, $1.5M NSF Grant "Partners in Science Education."
+ Member of the Science Education Initiative in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
+ Residence Life Academic Teaching Awards, 2005 and 2006
Outreach Activities:
+ Member of the Scientific Review Committee of the Boulder Valley School District.
+ Member of the Steering Committee of the International Baccalaureate Program, Fairview High School, Boulder.
+ Faculty Presenter in the CU Wizards Program
Editorial Activities:
+ Associate Editor, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
+ Guest Editor, Chemical Reviews (Thematic Issue on Mass Spectrometry).
+ Member, Editorial Board, The Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry.
+ Member, Editorial Board, The International Journal of Mass Spectrometry.
Broadening the Participation of Underrepresented Groups:
+ Mentor for Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training.
+ PI of a grant from President's Fund to Support the Recruitment and Retention
of Minority and Women Faculty
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