Jonathan Moerdyk grew up in rural Michigan and obtained his Bachelor's of Science degree from Hope College in Holland, MI. An enthusiasm for organic chemistry coupled with research regarding novel organic photochromes under the advisement of Dr. Jason G. Gillmore propelled Jonathan to the pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. At UT, Jonathan's research focused on the design, synthesis, and application of new carbene scaffolds as useful reagents as well as mimics for transition metals. In the Fall of 2014, Jonathan started at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. He continues to enjoy working with students as well as developing an active research program.

Education

• Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX), 2014
• B.S., Hope College (Holland, MI), 2009

Publications

• 22. Webb, E. W.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Sluiter, K. B.; Pollack, B. J.; Speelman, A. L.; Lynch, E. J., Gillmore, J. G. “Experimental and Computational Electrochemistry of Quinazolinespirohexadienone Molecular Switches – Differential Electrochromic vs Photochromic Behavior” Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2473-2485.
• 21. Joo, W.; Chen, C. H.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Deschner, R. P.; Bielawski, C. W.; Willson, C. G. “Photoinitiated Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization” J. Poly. Sci. A, 2019, 57, 1791-1795.
• 20. Moerdyk, J. P.; Schilter, D.; Bielawski, C. W. “N,N'-Diamidocarbenes: Isolable Divalent Carbons with Bona Fide Carbene Reactivity”. Acc. Chem. Res. 2016, 49, 1458-1468.
• 19. Lee, Y.-G.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Poly(2-imino-4-oxazolidinone)s via the Condensation of Diamidocarbenes with Bis(isocyanate)s” Macromolecules 2015, 48, 9081-9084.
• 18. Lastovickova, D. N.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Kelley, A. R.; Bielawski, C. W. “Assessing the Reactivity of N,N'- Diamidocarbenes Toward Compounds Containing p-Block Elements: The Activation of Silanes and Alanes”. Submitted to J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2015, 28, 75-78.
• 17. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Dihaloimidazolidinediones as Versatile Halodehydrating Agents”. Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 19, 14773-14776.
• 16. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Reductive Generation of Stable, Five-Membered N,N'-Diamidocarbenes”. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50, 4551-4553.
• 15. Chase, D. T.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Exploring the Chemistry of N,N'-Diamidocarbenes with Organophosphorus Compounds”. Org. Lett. 2014, 16, 812-815.
• 14. Moerdyk, J. P.; Blake, G. A.; Chase, D. T.; Bielawski, C. W. “Elucidation of Carbene Ambiphilicity Leading to the Discovery of Reversible Ammonia Activation”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 18798–18801.
• 13. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Stable Carbenes” in Contemporary Carbene Chemistry. Moss, R. A.; Doyle, M. P., Eds.-in-Chief; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ. 2013; pp 40–74.
• 12. Chen, M.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Blake, G. A.; Bielawski, C. W.; Lee, J. K. “Assessing the Proton Affinities of N,N'-Diamidocarbenes”. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 10452–10458.
• 11. Moerdyk, J. P. “Q&A: A Sustainable Chemist”. Nature 2013, 502, S59.
• 10. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “N,N'-Diamidocarbenes Facilitate Selective C–H Insertions and Transfer Hydrogenations”. Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 14773–14776.
• 9. Chase, D. T.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Elucidating the Mechanism of Reversible Oxiranations via Magnetization Transfer Spectroscopy”. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 5510–5513.
• 8. Lee, Y.-G.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Exploring the Nucleophilicity of N,N'-Diamidocarbenes: Heteroallenes and Related Compounds as Coupling Reagents”. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2012, 25, 1027–1032.
• 7. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Architectures of Polymers Synthesized using ROMP” in Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference. Matyjaszewski, K.; Möller, M., Eds.-in-Chief; El sevier: Amsterdam, 2012; pp 523–550.
• 6. Blake, G. A.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Tuning the Electronic Properties of Carbenes: A Systematic Comparison of Neighboring Amino versus Amido Groups”. Organometallics 2012, 31, 3373–3378.
• 5. Moerdyk, J.P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Alkyne and Reversible Nitrile Activation: N,N'-Diamidocarbene Facilitated Synthesis of Cyclopropenes, Cyclopropenones, and Azirines”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 6116–6119.
• 4. Moerdyk, J.P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Diamidocarbenes as Versatile and Reversible [2+1] Cycloaddition Reagents”. Nat. Chem. 2012, 4, 275–280.
• 3. Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Containing N,N'-Diamidocarbenes”. Organometallics 2011, 30, 2278–2284.
• 2. Hudnall, T. W.; Moerdyk, J. P.; Bielawski, C. W. “Ammonia Activation by a N,N'-Diamidocarbene”. Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 4288–4290.
• 1. Moerdyk, J. P.; Speelman, A. L.; Kuper, K. E.; Heiberger, B. R.; TerLouw, R. P.; Zeller, D. J.; Radler, A. J.; Gillmore, J. G. “Synthesis and Photochemistry of Two Quinone Analogs from the Perimidinespirohexadienone Family of Photochromes”. J. PhotoChem. Photobio. A. 2009, 205, 84–92.

Awards

• Hope College Young Alumni Award, March 2016
• Forbes “30 Under 30 in Science”, January 2015
• Scientific American “30 Under 30”, June 2013

Organizations

• American Chemical Society, Member

Presentations

• Moerdyk, J. P., Martin, D. Kline, M., Mayro, B., Herman, Z. “Synthetic Access to Sterically Enhanced N-Arylamines and Progress Toward a Novel, Tunable Carbene Scaffold”. 257th ACS National Meeting, Orlando, FL, Mar 2019.
• Moerdyk, J. P. “Haber-Bosch: A Liberal Arts and Summative Assessment for a One Semester General Chemistry Course”. 2018 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, South Bend, IN, Aug 2018.
• Gallagher, C.* and Moerdyk, J. P. “The Synthesis and Purification of N-Adamantylanilines”. 32nd Annual ACS Student Member Symposium, Duquesne University, Apr 2018. [Student award winner]
• Moerdyk, J. P. "Expanding Carbene Utility: Synthetic Potential and a Modular Indole-based Design". Seton Hill University Chemistry and Forensic Science Departmental Seminar, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, Sept 2017
• Hoover, W.* and Moerdyk, J. P. “Use of a Carbene as a Reactive CO Equivalent to Generate a Ketene Precursor”. 2017 Undergraduate Research Conference, Seton Hill University, PA, April 2017.
• Moerdyk, J. P. “Expanding Carbene Utility: Synthetic Potential and a Modular Indole-based Design”. St. Mary’s College of Maryland Natural Sciences and Mathematics Colloquium, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s, MD, Oct 2016.
• Moerdyk, J. P. “Enhancing the Organic Curriculum with iSpartan”. 2016 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Greeley, CO, Aug 2016
• Moerdyk, J. P. “Developing a Novel, Tunable Carbene Scaffold for Small Molecule Activation and Catalysis”. 47th Central Regional ACS Meeting, Covington, KY, May 2016
• Martin, D*; Herman, Z. J.*; Mayro, B. J.*; Wardale, J.*; Moerdyk, J. P. “Developing an Electronically Diverse and Persistent Indole-Based Alkylaminocarbene”. 47th Central Regional ACS Meeting, Covington, KY, May 2016
• Martin, D.*; Mayro, B.*; Herman, Z.*; Moerdyk, J. P. “Developing an Electronically Diverse and Persistent Indole-Based Alkylaminocarbene”. Undergraduate Research Conference, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, Apr 2016
• Waddell, J.*; Moerdyk, J. P. “Expanding Imidazolium-Iron Ionic Liquid Catalysts for Carbon-Carbon Bond Formaton.” 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, Mar 2016
• Cicconi, C.*; Moerdyk, J. P. “Analysis of Fluorinated Lidocaine Derivatives via 19F NMR.” Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Atlanta, GA, Mar 2016
• Martin, D.*; Wardale, J.*; Moerdyk, J. P. “Developing an Electronically Diverse and Persistent Indole-Based Alkylaminocarbene” American Chemical Society Chemistry on the Road Meeting, Greensburg, PA, Nov 2015
• Moerdyk, J. P. “iSpartan in Organic Chemistry.” 49th Middle Atlantic Association of Liberal Arts Chemistry Teachers Meeting, Latrobe, PA Oct 2015