Exploring the groundbreaking research presented at the 245th American Chemical Society National Meeting in New Orleans
In April 2013, as the warm breezes swept in from the Mississippi River, thousands of chemists from around the world descended upon New Orleans for the 245th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. This was no ordinary gathering—it represented one of the largest scientific conferences in the world that year, a vibrant marketplace of ideas where nearly 12,000 scientific papers would be presented over five days of intense exchange 7 .
Under the theme "Chemistry of Energy & Food", the meeting tackled two of humanity's most pressing challenges: how to power our civilization sustainably and how to feed a growing population without destroying the planet we inhabit.
The timing was significant. In the wake of growing concerns about climate change, resource depletion, and food security, the chemical sciences stood at a crossroads—poised to contribute transformative solutions if researchers could bridge disciplinary divides and spark new collaborations. As then-ACS President Marinda Li Wu emphasized in her presidential agenda, "Partners for Progress & Prosperity," the path forward required chemists to work across traditional boundaries, connecting academia with industry, fundamental research with practical applications, and local insights with global perspectives 7 .
This article explores the groundbreaking science presented at this pivotal meeting—from revolutionary energy technologies to cutting-edge computational methods—and reveals how the collaborations forged in New Orleans laboratories continue to shape our world today.
The sheer scale of the ACS Spring 2013 meeting was staggering. Held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from April 7-11, the event functioned as a temporary metropolis dedicated entirely to the advancement of chemistry 7 .
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 7-11, 2013 |
| Location | New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center |
| Theme | Chemistry of Energy & Food |
| Technical Chair | James N. Seiber (UC Davis) |
| Technical Presentations | Nearly 12,000 papers |
| Poster Presentations | More than 4,500 |
| Awards Banquet | New Orleans Marriott, honoring 2013 ACS National Award winners |
The scientific programming was organized by Professor James N. Seiber, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis, and editor of the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, who ensured that the theme "Chemistry of Energy & Food" resonated throughout the diverse symposia 7 1 . Meanwhile, the meeting also honored excellence in chemical research through the recognition of the 2013 ACS National Award winners at a special banquet held at the New Orleans Marriott, where Professor Peter J. Stang of the University of Utah delivered the prestigious Priestley Medal Address 7 4 .
The quest for sustainable energy solutions formed a central pillar of the meeting, with researchers presenting bold innovations aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. In a world increasingly concerned about carbon emissions and climate change, the development of new materials and processes for clean energy generation and storage took center stage.
Advanced materials for efficient solar energy conversion
Innovative membranes for COâ‚‚ separation and storage
Next-generation solutions for energy storage challenges
| Research Topic | Researchers | Institution | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| COâ‚‚/CHâ‚„ Separation Membranes | Kyle E. Hart & Coray M. Colina | Penn State University | Sulfur-containing PIMs show enhanced separation after oxidation to sulfonyl groups 9 |
| Interfacial Electron Transfer | O.P. Lee et al. | UC Berkeley | Femtosecond stimulated Raman reveals electron transfer dynamics in solar cell dyes 5 |
| Protein Refolding for Biofuel Enzymes | Yanxin Liu et al. | University of Illinois | Pressure-jump simulations reveal fast protein refolding pathways |
One particularly promising avenue of research involved the design of advanced materials for carbon capture and separation—a critical technology for mitigating climate change. Graduate student Kyle E. Hart and his advisor Professor Coray M. Colina from Penn State University presented computational work on a new class of polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) containing sulfur groups that showed exceptional promise for separating carbon dioxide from methane in industrial processes 9 .
Using a sophisticated multi-scale modeling approach, the team demonstrated that the COâ‚‚/CHâ‚„ separation performance of these materials could be significantly enhanced by incorporating sulfonyl functionalities through post-polymerization oxidation.
What made this research particularly compelling was its potential impact on natural gas purification. Natural gas, often touted as a "bridge fuel" in the transition to renewable energy, frequently contains significant amounts of carbon dioxide that must be removed before the gas can be used. Traditional separation methods are energy-intensive and expensive, but PIM-based membranes offered a potentially more efficient alternative.
The 2013 meeting highlighted how computational chemistry had evolved from a specialized niche to an essential tool across all chemical disciplines. As processing power increased and algorithms matured, researchers gained the ability to model complex chemical systems with astonishing accuracy, predicting properties and behaviors that would be difficult or impossible to measure experimentally.
Developed by Raghunath O. Ramabhadran and Professor Krishnan Raghavachari at Indiana University, this innovative automated computational method calculates thermochemical properties of organic molecules 9 .
The CBH approach breaks down complex molecules into smaller, standardized fragments whose properties can be accurately calculated, then reassembles this information to predict the properties of the larger target molecule.
Developed by Marie L. Laury and Professor Angela K. Wilson from the University of North Texas, this advanced computational method is designed to study heavier elements including transition metals and lower p-block elements 9 .
This method offers an excellent balance of computational efficiency and accuracy, opening new possibilities for studying catalysts and materials containing these heavier elements.
These computational advances reflected a broader trend at the meeting: the integration of theory and experiment was becoming increasingly seamless, with each approach informing and reinforcing the other in a virtuous cycle of discovery.
Some of the most fascinating research presented at the meeting explored the intricate behavior of molecules and proteins—the fundamental machinery of life and technology. These studies revealed the astonishing complexity of molecular systems and highlighted researchers' growing ability not just to observe, but to understand and ultimately control this complexity.
Yanxin Liu working with Professors Martin Gruebele and Klaus Schulten at the University of Illinois used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how proteins fold in response to sudden pressure changes 9 .
Their simulations revealed that when pressure is suddenly dropped, the protein refolds into its native state in about 20 microseconds. The simulations provided unprecedented atomic-level detail of the complete unfolding and refolding process.
Researchers from Tulane University studied ballistic energy transport through perfluoroalkane linkers 5 .
Their award-winning research explored how energy can travel through molecular chains in a direct, straight-line fashion—like a bullet passing through a rifle barrel—rather than the more typical diffusive transport.
At the University of Texas at Austin, researchers investigated how subtle electrostatic differences influence protein interactions, specifically examining the differential binding of RalGDS to Ras mutations using vibrational spectroscopy of thiocyanate probes 5 .
Their work provided new insights into the molecular-level mechanisms underlying cellular signaling processes—aberrations of which are implicated in many cancers.
Behind every chemical breakthrough lies an array of carefully designed tools and materials—the unsung heroes of laboratory research. At the ACS Spring 2013 meeting, researchers had access to an extensive exposition featuring more than 250 companies showcasing instruments, books, lab equipment, and research reagents 7 .
| Reagent Category | Function | Examples/Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Polymers | Create selective separation membranes | Sulfur-containing PIMs for COâ‚‚/CHâ‚„ separation 9 |
| Photoactive Dyes | Enable light harvesting and energy transfer | Triphenylamine dyes for studying electron transfer in solar cells 5 |
| Spectroscopic Probes | Report on molecular environment and interactions | Thiocyanate probes for studying protein binding 5 |
| Computational Reagents | Software and algorithms for molecular modeling | rp-ccCA for studying heavier elements 9 |
| Biochemical Reagents | Enable protein folding studies and enzymatic assays | λ-repressor protein fragments for folding studies 9 |
The critical importance of reagent quality and standardization was highlighted by the ongoing work on ACS Reagent Chemicals, which establishes specifications and procedures for reagents and standard-grade reference materials to ensure consistency and reliability in chemical research . This commitment to quality control forms the invisible backbone of reproducible chemical research—a fundamental requirement for building a reliable body of scientific knowledge.
Twelve years after chemists gathered in New Orleans for the 245th ACS National Meeting, the legacy of that convergence continues to resonate through ongoing research and technological developments. The meeting demonstrated that the most pressing challenges in energy and food security would not be solved by isolated advances, but through the integration of diverse expertise—from the precise manipulation of molecular structures to the large-scale engineering of functional materials.
Looking back, the 245th ACS National Meeting embodied a transitional moment in chemical research—one that balanced fundamental discovery with practical application, that leveraged computational power while respecting experimental validation, and that recognized the chemical sciences as essential contributors to solving global challenges.
As we face continuing pressures on our energy and food systems, the interdisciplinary spirit of "Chemistry of Energy & Food" remains as relevant as ever, pointing toward a future where chemical innovation continues to provide pathways to a more sustainable world.