Dr. Jack Waas

Associate Professor of Physical Organic Chemistry

B.A. Swarthmore College

M.S. and Ph.D. University of Michigan

jwaas@bethel.edu or x6261

Research Interests

My research interests lie first of all in organic reaction mechanisms. Of course it is important to be able to use organic chemistry to prepare useful and interesting new compounds, but what can we learn about the mechanisms of the reactions that form such compounds? What is the rate law? What are the energy transfer requirements? Investigations into such questions can gain us deeper understanding into new syntheses or new synthetic methods. We are currently studying the electrophilic aromatic addition reaction reported by a Korean group in early 2005 (Chi et. al., J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 1222-1226). In this reaction, one of the rings in a naphthalene or quinoline system loses its aromaticity – an unexpected result that runs counter to what we teach in standard sophomore organic chemistry classes.

Another recent area of interest is in computational chemistry. Recently we have studied the dissociation reaction of various alkyl halides to form the corresponding carbocation, by calculating enthalpy changes for various systems using semiempirical and DFT methods. These experiments are done relatively simply and quickly using the Gaussian 2003 software package.

Teaching Interests

I teach Organic Chemistry I and II, as well as Advanced Organic Chemistry in alternate spring terms. I also teach Modern Alchemy, in the interim and alternate spring terms, and occasionally General Chemistry I.

Brief Biography

I grew up in central New Jersey, and did my undergraduate work outside of Philadelphia at Swarthmore College, where I double-majored in chemistry and music. After finishing college in 1990, I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where I began my graduate work in chemistry, and also became a Christian. I completed my Masters' degree in Ann Arbor in 1992 and my Ph.D. in 1997. After a couple of one-year positions, I joined the faculty at Bethel in 1999. Outside of my work at Bethel, I am active locally as an amateur pit orchestra woodwind player, with flute being my specialty. I also travel with the Bethel wind ensemble on their annual tour. I share a townhouse not far north of campus with my cats Bella and BK.

Recent Publications

Waas, Jack R., "Semiempirical and DFT Investigations of the Dissociation of Alkyl Halides," J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 1017-1021.