Synthetic Chemistry

Learn the fundamentals of organic and inorganic chemistry behind groundbreaking discoveries in drug design, renewable energy sources, fragrance, and more.

Two scientists wearing lab coats and safety goggles work in a laboratory setting, examining materials on the countertop.

About the Program

Participants in the Summer Science Program in Synthetic Chemistry delve into organic and inorganic chemistry and work together to research and synthesize macrocyclic compounds. These complex compounds are known for their unique functions and characteristics, which have led to breakthroughs in fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology.

The Synthetic Chemistry program provides participants with an interactive and rigorous lab experience that trains them in one of the most complex and challenging science classes in college: organic chemistry. Participants will learn how to use organic and inorganic chemistry to create safe and effective chemical reactions that can lead to potential benefits. They will have an excellent opportunity to work with trained professionals from our faculty and meet renowned chemists to learn how to pivot, optimize, and troubleshoot research problems that can be applicable beyond the field of chemistry.

Key Dates and Deadlines

  • December 12th, 2024
    Applications Open

  • January 24th, 2025
    Deadline for international applications

  • February 21st, 2025
    Deadline for domestic applications 

  • Mid-April 2025
    Admissions decisions released

  • June 2025
    Programs begin mid-late June

Is the Summer Science Program in Synthetic Chemistry Right for You?

Applications are open each winter to current high school juniors who have completed or are in the process of completing any level of high school chemistry by June for credit and a grade. Strong algebra skills are highly recommended. We do NOT require AP or advanced-level classes. Self-study does not qualify.

Applicants must be at least 15 years old but not yet 19 during program operation. Current freshmen, sophomores, and seniors are not eligible.

Program Dates & Campuses

  • Southwestern Oklahoma State University
    June 8 – July 13

Four people wearing lab coats and safety goggles stand together in a laboratory.
A laboratory setup with glassware and a heating mantle for chemical distillation on a black countertop.
A group of 15 people in lab coats and blue gloves stand together in a laboratory setting, posing for a group photo.
Cartoon drawings and handwritten text fill a whiteboard labeled SSP SynthChem 2024. It includes group sketches, names, and chemistry notes, with a gas cylinder regulator visible below.

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2025 Research Project: Creation of Novel Macrocyclic Catalysts

Catalysis is the process of speeding up a chemical reaction by introducing a catalyst. From helping us digest our food to turning raw materials into products like medicine, catalysts play a pivotal role in every aspect of chemistry.
 
In the “Creation of Novel Macrocyclic Catalysts” research project, you will learn how first-row transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) on the periodic table dominate the vast realm of redox catalysis in nature, biomimicry, and homogeneous catalysis. Porphyrin derivatives and other “synthetic” macrocyclic ligand systems strongly bind these metal ions and allow the study and replication of the natural enzymatic catalysts, from which many important catalysts have emerged.
 
The ligand systems explored in the Synthetic Chemistry Summer Science Program are called cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycles, and they result in compounds with many desirable characteristics, such as increased metal complex stability.
 
The great kinetic stability of the transition metal complexes has great promise in such applications as homogeneous catalysis, where complex stability has historically been a problem. Increased stability in homogenous catalysis has important implications among a variety of applications, including drug design, renewable energy, the production of polymers, and the production of flavor and fragrance chemicals, to name a few.

A Preview of the Experience

In teams of three, you will complete bench experiments to synthesize a novel macrocyclic compound through a multi-step process called de novo synthesis and create unique metal complexes of their macrocyclic ligand analog. You will learn techniques for performing de novo synthesis and the downstream characterization of organic and inorganic molecules.
 
After creating a unique macrocyclic ligand analog with a metal ion to stabilize its structure, the teams will dive into a brand-new synthesis, routinely check whether each step in the multi-step synthesis reaction is successful, and eventually arrive at an untested compound that will have unknown and possibly beneficial effects. By the end of the program, each group will complete and present a professional poster and draft a manuscript summarizing their efforts.
 
The project starts with concepts typically covered in 200-level Organic I and Organic II college courses and ends with the topics of inorganic and coordination chemistry, which are often only taught in 300- to 400-level courses for chemistry majors.
 
The laboratory work requires attention to detail, safety, and unbroken focus, as even a single misstep could affect the final synthesis yield. The classroom and overall project demand an in-depth understanding of the underlying chemical reactions, a critical eye for analyzing the characterization spectra, and the ability to work closely with your peers to accomplish a goal.
 
Topics covered in Synthetic Chemistry include: