PROFILE:   Dr. Pete R. Hauck, Associate Professor, Organic Chemistry
Ph. D., Columbia University

Courses Taught:

CY-152:  Molecular Architecture and Life

Chemistry is everywhere.  It happens inside every living thing; in lakes, streams, and oceans; in the atmosphere; in stars; even in a toaster or a frying pan.  In this course for liberal arts majors we study basic chemical principles so that we can understand the chemistry happening all around us.  At the end of this course you will know the answers to questions such as “are carbs really bad for me?”, “how do antibiotics kill bacteria without harming me?”, and “how do sunscreens protect my skin from cancer?”.  In the lab we perform a forensic-style analysis of over-the-counter medicines, analyze the effectiveness of different antacids, make soap from vegetable oil and drain cleaner, and perform some fascinating chemistry on deprotonated cellulose fibers (also called tie-dying).  

CY-303, CY-304:  Organic Chemistry

How can a single element form 90% of the 20,000,000 compounds that have been found in nature or made in the lab?  Carbon is a unique element whose combining properties enable it to form such diverse materials as paper, plastics, gasoline, aspirin, and the molecules of life – DNA, proteins, and hormones, to name just a few.  In this course we study the properties and reactions of carbon-containing compounds, learn and practice how to make complex molecules from simpler ones, and get hands-on experience identifying molecules using both simple and sophisticated techniques.

CY-407:  Advanced Organic Chemistry

In this course for seniors, we continue our studies of carbon-based compounds, delving into more sophisticated reactions and a more detailed understanding of the properties of organic molecules.

CY-411:  Spectra and Structure

If we can’t see molecules, how do scientists determine what an unknown chemical is?  They use complex machines to study the bonds in a molecule or the atoms that it contains, and then they piece this information together to deduce how a compound’s atoms are connected to each other.  This subject is vital to a practicing chemist, and students will obtain hands-on experience using state of the art equipment to solve several structural puzzles.

Professional Publications:

"Aza-ring expansion of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]octanones and related compounds.  A regiospecific synthesis of cis-octahydroindolones."   Jeffs, P.W.; Cortese, N.A.; Hauck, P.R.; Wolfram, J. J. Org. Chem. 1982, 47, 3876-81.

"Stereochemical studies of lasalocid aldol epimers.  Assignments and interconversions."  Still, W.C.; Kempf, D.; Hauck, P. Tetrahedron Lett., 1986, 27, 2727-30.

"Stereochemical studies of lasalocid epimers. Ion-driven epimerizations."   Still, W.C.; Hauck, P.; Kempf, D. Tetrahedron Lett. , 1987, 28, 2817-20.

"Stereochemical control in Macroheterocyles.  Stereochemical Studies of the Polyether Antibiotics."  Still, W.C.; Cai, D.; Lee, D.; Hauck, P.; Bernardi, A.; Romero, A. Lect. in Hetero. Chem. 1987, 9, 33.

"Why Are Secondary Metabolites ("Natural Products") Biosynthesized?" Williams, Dudley H.; Stone, Martin J.; Hauck, Peter R.; Rahman, Shirley K.J. Nat. Prod. 1989, 52, 1189-208.

"Molecular recognition by secondary metabolites."  Williams, Dudley H.; Stone, Martin J.; Mortishire-Smith, Russell J.; Hauck, Peter R. Biochem. Parmacol., 1990, 40, 27-34.