Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Erin T PelkeyProfessor of Chemistry

Joined faculty in 2001

Postdoctoral, Stanford University
Ph.D., Dartmouth College
B.A., Carleton College

Contact Information

Scholarly Interest

• Heterocyclic chemistry
• Total synthesis of biologically active natural products
• Design and discovery of tubulin inhibitors
• Metal-mediated tandem reactions

Collaborators

• Professor Patricia Mowery (HWS Biology Department)
• Professor Kathryn Cole (Christopher Newport University)

Current Research Students

• Jack Russo '22
• Grace Faulkner '22
• Blake Evans '22
• Becca Huss '22
• Christina Mitrow '22
• Taylor Coburn '23
• Carolyn George '23

Recently Graduated (or soon to graduate) Research Students (2021/2022)

• Jack Canniff '22
• Molly Dexter '21
• Spencer Tretter '21
• Maddie Filkorn '21

Research

Organic Chemistry Research:

Click on YouTube Link at the bottom of this page to hear me describe the excitement of doing organic chemistry research at the 2019 HWS Convocation.

External Research Grants:

• NSF-RUI #1362183, "RUI: Developing Convergent Syntheses of Nitrogen Heterocycles," $210,000 (2014-2018).
• NIH-R15 GM 086819-01, "New Methodology for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Nitrogen Heterocycles," $197,648 (2009-2013).
• NSF-TUES #1044396 (with Miller, Mowery, and Carle), "TUES: Transforming Cell Biology and Organic Chemistry through Incorporation of the HDACi Cancer Therapeutic Lab Project," $180,000 (2011-2014).
• NSF-MRI #072218 (with Miller and de Denus), "MRI: Acquisition of an NMR Spectrometer to Maintain Active Undergraduate Education and Research Programs," $342,000 (2007-2010).

Courses Taught

• Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 240)
• Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 241)
• Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM 347)
• Junior/Senior Chemistry Seminar (CHEM 360/460)
• Introduction to General Chemistry (CHEM 110)
• Miracle Drugs (FSEM 166)

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications: (Note: HWS Undergraduate co-authors in bold)

• Mowery, P.; Filkorn, M.M.; Hurysz, B.; Kwansare, D.O.; Lafferty, M.M.; McFadden, M.A.; Neerukonda, N.D.; Patel, R.R.; Pierce, K.; Sockett, K.A.; Truax, N.J.; Webster, N.R.; Pelkey, E.T.  Discovery of an indole-substituted furanone with tubulin polymerization inhibition activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2021, 41, 127991.
• Moore, C.A.; Ohman, B.F.; Garman, M.J.; Liquori, M.E.; Degan, D.M.; Voellinger, K.B.; DePersis, M.J.; Pelkey, E.T. Investigating the stereochemical outcome of a tandem cyclization-coupling reaction leading to a 3-arylmethylideneisobenzofuran-1-one.  Arkivoc 2018, part (iv), 50-69.
• Mowery, P.; Banales Mejia, F.; Franceschi, C.L.; Kean, M.J.; Kwansare, D.O.; Lafferty, M.M.; Neerukonda, N.D.; Rolph, C.E.; Truax, N.J.; Pelkey, E.T. Synthesis and Evaluation of the Anti-Proliferative Acitivity of Diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones and Fused Analogs.  Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2017, 27, 191-195.
• Banales Mejia, F.; Lafferty, M.M.; Melvin, S.J.; Truax, N.J.; Kean, M.H.; Pelkey, E.T. Lewis Acid Mediated Addition of Indoles and Alcohols to Tetronic Acid and Tetramic Acids.  Synlett 2017, 28, 260-264.
• Truax, N.J.; Banales Mejia, F.; Kwansare, D.O.; Lafferty, M.M.; Kean, M.H.; Pelkey, E.T.  Synthesis of Benzo[a]carbazoles and an Indolo[2,3-a]carbazole from 3-Aryltetramic Acids. J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81, 6808-6815.
• van Loon, A.A.; Holton, M.K.; Downey, C.R.; White, T.M.; Rolph, C.E.; Bruening, S.R.; Li, G.; Delaney, K.M.; Pelkey, S.J.; Pelkey, E.T.  Preparation of Dibenzo[e,g]isoindol-1-ones via Scholl-Type Oxidative Cyclization Reactions.  J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 8049-8058.
• Greger, J.G.; Yoon-Miller, S.J.P.; Bechtold, N.R.; Flewelling, S.A.; MacDonald, J.P.; Downey, C.R.; Cohen, E.A.; Pelkey, E.T. Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 3,4-Diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones Utilizing Pyrrole Weinreb Amides. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 8203-8214.
• Yoon-Miller, S.J.P. Dorward, K.M. White, K.P. Pelkey, E.T. Suzuki-Miyaura Arylations of Tetramic Acid Sulfonates: Evaluation of Lactam Protection, Sulfonate Esters, and Sterics. J. Heterocycl. Chem. 2009, 46, 447-454.
• Dorward, K.M. Guthrie, N.J. Pelkey, E.T. Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Approach to 3,4-Diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones from Tetramic Acid Triflates. Synthesis 2007, 2317-2322.
• Yoon-Miller, S.J.P. Opalka, S.M. Pelkey, E.T. Short Synthesis of 4-Aryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones. Tetrahedron Lett. 2007, 48, 827-830.
• Coffin, A.R. Roussell, M.A. Tserlin, E. Pelkey, E.T. Regiocontrolled Synthesis of Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehydes and 3-Pyrrolin-2-ones from Pyrrole Weinreb Amides. J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 6678-6681.

Recent Book Chapters: (Note: HWS Undergraduate co-authors in bold)

• Pelkey, E.T.; Pelkey, S.J.; Greger, J.G. Reactions of 3-Pyrrolin-2-ones.  In Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry.  Scriven, E. and Ramsden, C., Eds.; Elsevier Science: New York, 2019, 128, 433-565.
• Pelkey, E.T.; Pelkey, S.J.; Greger, J.G. De Novo Synthesis of 3-Pyrrolin-2-ones.  In Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry.  Scriven, E. and Ramsden, C., Eds.; Elsevier Science: New York, 2015, 115, 151-287.
• Russel, J.; Pelkey, E.T.; Greger, J.G. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds.; Elsevier Science: New York, 2011, 23, 155-194.
• Pelkey, E.T. Metalation of Indole. In Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry. Gribble G.W., Ed.; Heterocyclic Scaffolds I: Indole; Springer-Verlag: Berlin, 2010, 141-191.
• Russel, J.; Pelkey, E.T.; Yoon-Miller, S.J.P. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds.; Elsevier Science: New York, 2010, 22, 143-180.
• Russel, J. Pelkey, E.T. Yoon-Miller, S.J.P. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds. Elsevier Science: New York, 2009, 21, 145-178.
• Pelkey, E.T. Selenophenes. In Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, Katritzky, A.R. Ramsden, C.A. Scriven, E.F.V. Taylor, R., Eds. Elsevier: Oxford, 2008 Vol. 3, 975-1006.
• Russel, J. Pelkey, E.T. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds. Elsevier Science: New York, 2008, 20, 122-151.
• Pelkey, E.T. Russel, J. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry,, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds. Elsevier Science: New York, 2007, 19, 135-175.
• Pelkey, E.T. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Pyrroles and Benzo Derivatives. In Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Gribble, G.W. and Joule, J.A., Eds. Elsevier Science: New York, 2006, 18, 150-186.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Member, American Chemical Society
• Member, International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry
• Reviewer, Organic Letters
• Reviewer, Journal of Organic Chemistry
• Reviewer, Tetrahedron Letters
• Reviewer, Tetrahedron
• Reviewer, Synthesis
• Reviewer, Petroleum Research Fund
• Reviewer, Research Corporation
• Reviewer, National Science Foundation
• Reviewer, National Institute of Health
• Board of Observers, Muhlenberg Chemistry Department (2013)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Learning organic chemistry involves doing organic chemistry, thus, there is a homework problem set due before each class meeting.

While this structure has historically proven to be very effective for some students in the past (for those students that can leverage relationships into effective study groups where to peer-to-peer learning is facilitated or for those students who thrive by bunkering down in a room alone for hours at a time), it is less effect for some students who are unable to access these peer-formed study groups or who do not thrive studying alone.

One important aspect of your professional development is developing and cultivating your ability to work with people that are not like you, that are not in your friend group, and that have different experiences than you. To become better at working with a wide range of people, you have to practice working with a wide range of people.

This gives us the opportunity, in organic chemistry classes, collectively, to figuratively kill two birds with one stone. I challenge everyone in this class to reach out to a peer that you have do not already have a relationship and endeavor to work together on organic chemistry problems outside of class (and at the same time work on your ability to work with others). This will expose you to a larger world of ideas and experiences and skills than you otherwise would be exposed to if you just stick to your traditional peer groups and/or by working alone.

When it comes time to make plans to work on organic chemistry, in addition to texting your friends, reach out and text someone that you haven't worked with before this class. The benefits to you and to the class collectively will likely be realized beyond and be more impactful than just what happens here with learning organic chemistry.

SERVICE PROJECTS

• Faculty-Athletic Fellow, Hobart Soccer
• POSSE 2 Mentor (Los Angeles)
• Health Professions Advisory Committee