Dr. Radu F. Semeniuc

Education & Training

• B.S., “BabeÅŸ-Bolyai” University (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), 1990
• Ph.D., “BabeÅŸ-Bolyai” University (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), 2001
• Ph.D., University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), 2004

At EIU since 2007

Conference Presentations

• “Dinuclear copper(II) bioinspired complexes: Investigations of their catecholase activity”; 257th ACS National Meeting, March 31-April 4, 2019, Orlando, FL.
• “Metal complexes of a new ditopic, bis(pyrazolyl)methane-based heteroscorpionate ligand"; (Invited talk); 68th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, October 23-26, 2016, Columbia, SC.
• “Starburst pseudorotaxanes based on benzobis(imidazolium) salts and crown ethers”; 248th ACS National Meeting, August 10-14, 2014, San Francisco, CA.
• “On the host-guest chemistry of benzobis(imidazolium) salts and crown ethers: Exploring the path toward carbene based interlocked molecules”; 246th ACS National Meeting, September 8-12, 2013, Indianapolis, IN.

Publications

(EIU students in italics)

• “Tuning the catecholase activity of bis(pyrazolyl)methane-based copper(II) complexes by substitutions of the ligand core: Unraveling a dual O₂/H₂O₂ oxidation mechanism” Jayaweera, Nuwanthaka; Hall, Ashley E.; Wilson, Ashton A.; Konkle, Mary E.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2020, 506, 119507.
• “Benzobis(imidazolium) salts as templates for the self-assembly of starburst [2*4]pseudorotaxanes and their corresponding carbene-based classic [2*2]pseudorotaxanes” Foster, Mathew W.; Mehl, Benjamin T.; Treadwell, Edward M.; Semeniuc, Radu F.; Wheeler, Kraig A. Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 1786-1789.
• "An unexpected μ4-oxido-bridged tetranuclear Cu(II) inverse coordination complex of a heptadentate bis(pyrazolyl)methane-based ligand: Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic properties, and catecholase activity” Joy, Syed R. U.; Trufan, Eszter; Smith, Mark D.; Puscas, Cristina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu L.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2019, 485, 190-199.
• “Multiple Coordination Modes of a New Ditopic Bis(pyrazolyl)methane Ligand” Coulton, John B.; Smith, Aramis C.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 17109-17121.
• "Second generation O-alkyldithiocarbonates: Easy access to a new class of metalloligands" (invited paper for a special issue honoring Professor Ionel Haiduc) Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reamer, Thomas J.; Hammock, Kaitlyn A.; Jones, Holly B.; Smith, Mark D.; Wheeler, Kraig A. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2018, 475, 161-171.
• “Neutral interlocked assemblies from anionic pseudorotaxanes coordinated to Sn(IV) and Cu(I) metallic centers” Baum, Robert R.; Veach, Jedidiah J.; Semeniuc, Radu F.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Pellechia, Perry J. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2017, 455, 52-60.
• “Silver(I) and rhenium(I) metal complexes of a 2,2’-bipyridine functionalized third generation tris-(pyrazolyl)methane ligand” (invited paper for a special issue on "Scorpionates: a golden anniversary") Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reger, Daniel L.; Smith, Mark D. Acta Cryst. 2016, C72, 826-831.
• “A cadmium(II) coordination polymer formed from a third generation, tetratopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand” (invited paper for a special issue on "Scorpionates: a golden anniversary") Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reger, Daniel L.; Smith, Mark D. Acta Cryst. 2016, C72, 832-837.
• “Metal Complexes of Multitopic, Third Generation Poly(pyrazolyl)methane Ligands: Multiple Coordination Arrangements” (invited review for EurJIC’s Cluster Issue on “The Significance of Scorpionate Ligands 50 Years on”) Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reger, Daniel L. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2016, 2253-2271.
• “Tris(pyrazolyl)methane and 1,8-naphthalimide-functionalized dialkynylgold(I) anionic complexes” Reger, Daniel L.; Smith, Mark D.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Acta Cryst. 2013, C69, 954-958.
• “Metal complexes of ditopic dithiophosphonate ligands built on a naphthalenediimide core” Semeniuc, Radu F.; Baum, Robert R.; Veach, Jeddiah, J.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Pellechia, Perry J. Inog. Chim. Acta. 2013, 400, 228–238.
• “Post-synthesis Surface-modified Silicas as Adsorbents for Heavy Metal Ion Contaminants Cd(II), Cu(II), Cr(III), and Sr(II) in Aqueous Solutions” Kothalawala, Nuwan; Blitz, Jonathan P.; Gun’ko, Vladimir M.; Jaroniec, Mietek; Grabicka, Bogna; Semeniuc, Radu F. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2013, 392, 57–64.
• “8-Quinoline Based Ligands and Their Metallic Derivatives: A Structural and Statistical Investigation of Quinoline π – π stacking Interactions” Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reamer, Thomas J.; Smith, Mark D. New J. Chem. 2010, 34, 439-452.
• “Functionalized O-Alkyldithiocarbonates: A New Class of Ligands Designed for Luminescent Heterometallic Materials” Semeniuc, Radu F.; Reamer, Thomas J.; Blitz, Jonathan P.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Smith, Mark D. Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 2624-2629.
• “Supramolecular Architectures of Metal Complexes Controlled by a Strong π-π Stacking, 1,8-Naphthalimide Functionalized Third Generation Tris(pyrazolyl)methane Ligand” Reger, Daniel L.; Sirianni, Eric; Horger, Jacob; Smith, Mark D.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Cryst. Growth Des. 2010, 10, 386-393.
• “Highly Organized Structures and Unusual Magnetic Properties of Paddlewheel Copper(II) Carboxylate Dimers Containing the π–π Stacking, 1,8-Naphthalimide Synthon” Reger, Daniel L.; Debreczeni, Agota; Reinecke, Bryn; Rassolov, Vitaly; Smith, Mark D.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 8911-8924.
• “Metal complexes of new scorpionate ligands: 2,2'-Bis(pyrazolyl)ethylamine and its derivatives” Reger, Daniel L.; Reinecke, Bryn; Smith, Mark D.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2009, 362, 4377-4388.
• “Synthesis and structural characterization of a mixed-ligand diiron(II) complex formed by a linked bitopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand: {HC(3,5-Me2pz)3Fe[μ-p-C6H4(CH2OCH2C(pz)3)2]-Fe(3,5-Me2pz)3CH}(BF4)4 (pz=pyrazolyl ring)” Reger, Daniel L.; Little, Christine A.; Semeniuc, Radu F.; Smith, Mark D. Inorg. Chim. Acta. 2009, 362, 303-306.
• “Supramolecular networks of Silver(I) and Iron(II) Complexes of the Third Generation Tris-(pyrazolyl)methane Ligand Ph2(O)POCH2C(pz)3 (pz = pyrazolyl ring)” Reger, Daniel L.; Semeniuc, Radu F.; Smith, Mark D. Dalton Trans. 2008, 2253-2260.
• “[1,4-Bis(diphenylphosphino)butane-μ2P,P'](dithiocarbonato-μ2S,S')nickel(II)” Campian, M. V.; Haiduc, I.; Semeniuc, Radu F. Acta Cryst., E 2007, E63, m2168.

Funding & Grants

• ACS – Petroleum Research Fund: “A Variable Bridging Ligand Strategy for Bimetallic Complexes”
  • $70,000; July 2021 - August 2024.
• ACS – Petroleum Research Fund: “Neutral dinuclear iron complexes supported by Namido-Metal bonds”
  • $70,000; July 2016 - August 2019.
• ACS – Petroleum Research Fund: “Novel Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Cage Architectures Incorporating Azacrown Ethers and 1,3,5-Triazine Scaffolds”
  • $50,000; May 2008 - August 2010.
• EIU – PFRCA: “Metal-Based Compounds for Environmentally Friendly Transformations”
  • $17,500; July 2015 - June 2016.
• EIU – PFRCA: “The Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Novel Rotaxane Systems”
  • $18,500; July 2013 - June 2014.
• EIU – PIF: “Building Smart Catalysts Based on New Metal-Carbene Complexes”
  • $7,500; January 2011 - June 2011.
• EIU – PIF: “Precursors for Nanomaterials: Anionic Components for Molecular Machines”
  • $6,900; January 2008 - June 2008.
• EIU – CFR: “Fighting Global Warming - New Materials for Hydrogen Storage”
  • $3,200; January 2008 - June 2008.

Frequently Taught Courses

• CHM 1310, 1410 - General Chemistry I and II
• CHM 1315, 1415 - General Chemistry Laboratory I and II
• CHM 2310 - Inorganic Chemistry I
• CHM 4900 - Inorganic Chemistry II
• CHM 4915 - Advanced Laboratory
• CHM 5350 - Organometallic Chemistry
• CHM 5360 - Supramolecular Chemistry

Research & Creative Interests

• Bioinorganic chemistry – synthesis and characterization of bio-inspired metal complexes as models for the active sites of various enzymes.
• Supramolecular chemistry – synthesis and characterization of self-assembled architectures and mechanically interlocked molecules.