Dr. Jack Waas

Associate Professor of Physical Organic Chemistry

B.A. Swarthmore College

M.S. University of Michigan

Ph.D. University of Michigan

jwaas@bethel.edu, 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 changes over the course of the process? Investigations into such questions can gain us deeper understanding into new syntheses or new synthetic methods.

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.  It is even possible to compute transition structure energies, in order to investigate activation energies.

In my work with Daniel Singleton's research group at Texas A&M University, we collaborate in studying such issues.  We have mainly been focused on Diels-Alder and other cycloaddition reactions that could in principle lead to two or more different possible products.  Such systems lend themselves well to both computational analysis and experimental investigations.

Teaching Interests

I teach Organic Chemistry I and II, as well as Modern Alchemy and Intro to General and Organic 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.  My other hobbies include drawing and computer gaming.  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 Rambo.

Recent Publications

Thomas, Jacqueline B.; Waas, Jack R.; Harmata, Michael; Singleton, D. A.  "Control Elements in Dynamically-Determined Selectivity on a Bifurcating Surface."  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 14544-14555.

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