Welcome to the Homepage of
Dr. David W. Emerson

Emeritus
Organic Chemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Department of Chemistry
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Parkway
Box 454003
Las Vegas, NV 89154-4003
Telephone: (702) 895-4071
Fax: (702) 895-4072
Email: emerson@unlv.nevada.edu

Education:

Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1958
M.S.Chem. Chemistry, University of MIchigan, Ann Arbor, 1954
A.B. (Cum Laude) Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 1952
 

Industrial Experience:

Shell Oil Co., 1957-63
 

Major Teaching Responsibilities:

Organic Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
 

Current Research Projects:

1. Polymers with reactive functional groups. The synthesis and reactions of polymers with Chlorosulfonyl, sulfonamido, N- alkylsulfonamido, N-halosulfonamido, and sulfonyl functional groups are being studied. The products are tested for use in various potential applications.

 2. Organic sulfur chemistry. Sulfonium salts that perform alkyl group tranfer reactions are being synthesized and and tested in analytical and synthesis applications.

 3. Organic reaction mechanisms. Reaction types being studied include decarbonylation, ring opening reactions and molecular rearrangements.
 
 

Selected Publications:


Emerson, D. W. and Ifalade, S. O. “An Improved Preparation of Macroporous, Chlorosulfonated Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) and Conversion To Sulfonamides and Sulfonylhydrazines” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2005, 44(18 ), 7045-7048.

Emerson, D. W.; Bennett, B. L.; Steinberg, S. M. “A Verstile One-Pot Synthesis of Dialkyl Disulfides and Sulfides” Synth. Commun,2005, 35(5), 631-638.

Emerson, D. W.; Steinberg, S. M.; Titus; R. L. “The Rearrangement of an Allylic Dithiocyanate. An Experiment for Organic or Physical Chemistry Using NMR Analysis” J. Chem. Educ.2005 , 82, 466-7.


Emerson, D. W.; Johnson, B. J.; Song, L.; Ali, A.; Auer, K."Silicon-Containing Polymeric Sulfonamides" Polym. Prepr. 2004, 45(1), 703-4.

Zhang, Y.; Emerson, D. W.; David W. Steinberg, S. M. "Destruction of Cyanide in Water Using N-Chlorinated Secondary Sulfonamide-Substituted Macroporous Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)" Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2003, 41, 5959-5963.

Brian J. Johnson, David W. Emerson, Liming Song, Jennifer Floyd, Bhaskar Taddepali "Determination of Active Chlorine in Air by Bonded Phase Sorbent Collection and Spectrophotometric Analysis"  The Analyst, 1999, 124, 1853.

Emerson, D. W.; Titus, R. L.; Jones, M. D. "A Ring-Opening Reaction of 6-Oxo-Substitued Spiropyrrolidinediones: Synthesis of 4-Substituted-1,5-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,5-diphenyl-(2H)-pyrroles " J. Heterocyclic Chem. 1998, 35, 611-617.

Emerson, D. W.; Grigorian, C.; Hess, J.; Zhang, Y. "Probing the Structures of Redox Polymers" Reactive and Functional Polymers 1997, 33, 91-101.

Butala, S. J.; Zarrabi, K.; Emerson, D. W. "Sampling and Analysis for Lead in Water and Soil Samples on a University Campus" J. Chem. Educ. 1995, 72, 441-444.

Earl, B. L.; Emerson, D. W.; Johnson, B. J.; Titus, R. L. "A Course for teaching Practical Computer Skills to Chemistry Majors" J. Chem. Educ. 1994, 71, 1065-1068.

Emerson, D. W.; Titus, R. L.; Steinberg, S. M.; Jones, M. D. "Kinetics and Mechanism of a Double Thiocyanate-isothiocyanate Isomerization: A Round Robin Rearrangement" J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 5109-5110.

Emerson, D. W. "Microdetermination of Bromine, Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide in Water in any Combination" Microchem. J. 1994, 50, 116-124.

Emerson, D. W. "Chlorine Dioxide Generated by Reaction of Sodium Chlorite with N-Halosulfonamide or N-Alkyl-N-halosulfonamide Groups on Styrene-Divinylbenzene Copolymers" Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1993, 32, 1228-1234.

Emerson, D. W. "Slow release of Active Chlorine and Active Bromine from Styrene-Divinylbenzene Copolymers Bearing N,N- Dichlorosulfonamide, N-Chloro-N-alkylsulfonamide and N-Bromo-N- alkylsufonamide Functional Groups. Polymer Supported Reagents. 6" Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1991, 30, 2426.

Emerson, D. W.; Titus, R. L.; González, R. M. "Evidence for Ketene Intermediates in the Decarbonylation of 2,4-Dioxo Acids and Esters and 2-Oxobutanedioic acid Esters", J. Org. Chem. 1991, 56, 5301-5307.