Dr. Wade Neiwert

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

B.S. George Fox University, Ph.D. Emory University

Research Interests

My research focuses on the study of a unique class of inorganic cluster-like compounds known as polyoxometalates (POMs for short). These anionic clusters are composed of various numbers of metals cations (usually W(VI), Mo(VI), or V(V)) connected by oxygen anions. A wide variety of structures have been discovered, and they have some intriguing applications, including antiviral agents and catalysts for a number of oxidation reactions. Our recent efforts have focused on using POMs as nanoscale building blocks, where they are connected by organic ligands, resulting in inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Multiple spectroscopic techniques are used to characterize POMs and their resulting polymeric materials, including multi-nuclear NMR (1H, 13C, 31P, 29Si, etc), FT-IR, UV-Vis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Teaching Interests

My primary teaching responsibilites include General Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, and Modern Alchemy (chemistry for non-science majors). I also teach the second semester of Senior Seminar, overseeing the completion of our senior chemistry majors' research theses. During the January interim term I teach Science in the Fifth Dimension, a course aimed at discussing the history and philosophy of science. I am in the progress of adapting this course to studied abroad in Europe.

Brief Biography

My wife Rachel and I are from Oregon, where we both attended George Fox University (just south of Portland). After undergraduate we lived in Atlanta, Georgia for five years, where I earned by Ph.D. in chemistry from Emory University and Rachel earned her Master's in history from Georgia State University and taught middle school humanities. While in Georgia we adopted our two beautiful border collies, Missy and Rosie, which continue to serve as our "children" at this point in our lives. My dogs have functioned as a good excuse to escape to the outdoors whenever time allows.

Recent Publications

K. M. Sundaram, W. A. Neiwert, C. L. Hill, I. A. Weinstock, “Relative energies of alpha and beta isomers of Keggin dodecatungstogallate,” Inorganic Chemistry 45, 3, 958-960, (2006).

T. M. Anderson, R. Cao, E. Slonkina, B. Hedman, K. O. Hodgson, K. I. Hardcastle, W. A. Neiwert, S. Wu, M. L. Kirk, S. Knottenbelt, E. C. Depperman, B. Keita, L. Nadjo, D. G. Musaev, C. L. Hill, “A palladium-oxo complex. Stabilization of this proposed catalytic intermediate by an encapsulating polytungstate ligand,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 127, 11948-11949, (2005).

O. A. Kholdeeva, M. N. Timofeeva, G. M. Maksimov, R. I. Maksimovskaya, W. A. Neiwert, C. L. Hill, “Aerobic oxidation of formaldehyde mediated by a Ce-containing polyoxometalate under mild conditions,” Inorganic Chemistry 44, 3, 666-672, (2005).

J. C. Valentine, F. E. McDonald, W. A. Neiwert, K. I. Hardcastle, “Biomimetic synthesis of trans,syn,trans-fused polyoxepanes: Remarkable substituent effects on the endo-regioselective oxacyclization of polyepoxides,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 127, 4586-4587, (2005).