The 2003 Gibbs Award Dinner
Presented by the Chicago Section
of the American Chemical Society
 
Gibbs Medal Awardee: Prof. John Brauman
Professor John I. Brauman
The J. G. Jackson - C. J. Wood Professor of Chemistry and Cognizant Dean for Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Stanford University Stanford, CA

  Date:  Friday, May 30, 2003

Location:   Argonne Guest House
Argonne National Laboratories
9700 S. Cass Ave., Bldg. 460
Argonne, Illinois
630-739-6000
Time:   6:00 pm Social Hour, 7:00 pm Dinner, 8:30 pm Presentation

Introducing Professor Brauman:
Dr. Jack Halpern,   Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus,   Dept. of Chemistry,   University of Chicago

Presentation of the medal:
Dr. Elsa Reichmanis,   2003 President,   American Chemical Society

Cost:  $40.00 for members of ACS and their guests, $42.00 for non-members,
     $20 for students or unemployed

NON-U.S. CITIZENS: PLEASE CONTACT THE ACS OFFICE AT 847-647-8405   ASAP to register.       You will need to provide your name, birthdate, and birthplace city and country.


The History of the Willard Gibbs Award

The Citation:

Acceptance Address:   Gas Phase Ionic Chemistry

Abstract:     We usually observe ions (atoms or molecules with charges) in condensed phase, where the energies of solvation are very large. These large solvation effects often overwhelm the intrinsic “chemical” differences that might otherwise determine the chemistry of these ions. By studying the isolated ions in the gas phase we learn something about their intrinsic chemistry as well as the effects of solvation.

Thermodynamics (acidity and basicity), kinetics (reaction dynamics) and mechanisms (SN2, carbonyl addition) are all dramatically affected by solvation. Additionally, electronic states of ions can be significantly affected by solvation. I will discuss some of the experiments and conclusions that can be drawn from these studies.

Biography:    John Brauman was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1937. He attended M.I.T. (S.B., 1959) and the University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D., 1963, with Andrew Streitwieser). He was a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA with Saul Winstein then took a position at Stanford University where he is currently J. G. Jackson - C. J. Wood Professor of Chemistry and Cognizant Dean for Natural Sciences. He served as Department Chair from 1979-1983 and 1996-1997.

Brauman has received a number of awards including the A.C.S. Award in Pure Chemistry, Harrison Howe Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, R. C. Fuson Award, Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, the James Flack Norris Award in Physical?Organic Chemistry, the National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences, and the Linus Pauling Medal,. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and an Honorary Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. He received the Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching from Stanford University in 1976. Brauman has served on many national committees and advisory boards. He was Deputy Editor for Physical Sciences for SCIENCE from 1985 to 2000 and is currently the Chair of the Senior Editorial Board.

Brauman's research has centered on structure and reactivity. He has studied ionic reactions in the gas phase, including acid-base chemistry, the mechanisms of proton transfers, nucleophilic displacement, and addition?elimination reactions. His work includes inferences about the shape of the potential surfaces and the dynamics of reactions on these surfaces. He has made contributions to the field of electron photodetachment spectroscopy of negative ions, measurements of electron affinities, the study of dipole?supported electronic states, and multiple photon infrared activation of ions. He has also studied mechanisms of solution and gas phase organic reactions as well as organometallic reactions and the behavior of biomimetic organometallic species.


Directions and Map:

From the City:

Take Interstate 55 South (towards St. Louis). Exit at South Cass Avenue. Proceed on Cass Avenue south one quarter mile to the Argonne Laboratory totem pole on the right. Turn right and proceed to the gate house and, after checking in, follow signs to the Argonne Guest House.

From the North:

Take Interstate 294 South to Interstate 55 South (towards St. Louis). Exit at South Cass Avenue. Proceed on Cass Avenue south one quarter mile to the Argonne Laboratory totem pole on the right. Turn right and proceed to the gate house and, after checking in, follow signs to the Argonne Guest House.

Parking:   Free


Dinner:
Crab cakes
Mixed field greens with pecans and buttermilk dressing
a choice of:
    Oven Roasted Prime Rib accented with creamy horseradish sauce
    Grilled Atlantic Salmon Filet
    Vegetarian Entrée
Chocolate Oblivion cake




Updated 5/23/03