William & Mary
Curriculum Vitae Standard Format
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Christopher J. Abelt December 2, 2024
Office: 2049 ISC1 Phone: 221-2677
Home: 107 W Kingswood Drive Phone: 229-1438
Title: Chancellor Professor of Chemistry Email:cjabel@wm.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles Organic Chemistry 1983
B.S. University of Wisconsin, Madison Chemistry and Mathematics 1978
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2013- Chancellor Professor, William & Mary
2022-23 Associate Chair, Department of Chemistry, William & Mary
2019-22 Chair, Department of Music, William & Mary
2009-17 Chair, Department of Chemistry, William & Mary
1998-13 Professor of Chemistry, William & Mary
1997-02 Garrett-Robb-Guy Professor, William & Mary
1992-98 Associate Professor of Chemistry, William & Mary
1991-09 Graduate Director for Chemistry, William & Mary
1986-92 Assistant Professor of Chemistry, William & Mary
1984-85 AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, Post-Doctoral Member of the Technical Staff
HONORS, PRIZES AND AWARDS
Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence 2017
Arts and Sciences Governance Award 2013
Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar 1996
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Scholar 1992
Alumni Fellow 1991
Winstein Dissertation Fellowship 1983
Allied Foundation Fellowship 1982
Regents University Fellowship 1978
Standard Oil of California Scholarship 1977
Knapp Honors Fellowship 1977
Phi Beta Kappa 1977
Vilas Scholarship 1977
COURSES TAUGHT
Organic Chemistry I and II Organic Chemistry I and II labs
General Chemistry II Integrated Physical and Analytical labs
Organic Spectroscopy Introduction to Chemistry Research, Graduate Seminar
Advanced Organic Chemistry Chemistry, Sophomore, Junior, Senior and Honors Research
Modern Laboratory Techniques Graduate Research, Seminar, Thesis
FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS
William and Mary Summer Research Grant, 1986
"Cyclodextrin-Assisted Cycloadditions," Petroleum Research Fund, Type G, 9/1/86-8/31/88, $18,000.
"Influence of Facial Orientation on Collaborative Binding in Bis-Cyclodextrins," Research Corporation, May 1986, funding denied.
"Purchase of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer," National Science Foundation-Research at Undergraduate Institutions, 6/19/87, $110,000 (co-PI).
"Purchase of NMR Accessories," W.M. Keck Foundation, 12/17/87, $65,000 (assisted Provost Schiavelli).
"Collaborative Binding in Bis-Cyclodextrins," Research Corporation, 1/1/87-12/31/89, $23,000. (An SLM Aminco SPF-500 was purchased with $12,500 from this grant)
"Quinone-Capped b-Cyclodextrins: Potential Photoinduced-Electron-Transfer Catalysts," Jeffress Memorial Trust, 1/1/88-12/31/90, $41,700.
"Insertion Reactions of Cyclodextrin-Bound Carbenes," Petroleum Research Fund, Type B, 9/1/89-8/31/91, $20,000.
"Purchase of Instrumentation for a Biochemistry Laboratory," National Science Foundation, Instrument and Laboratory Improvement (ILI), submitted 11/89, funding denied.
"Synthesis and Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Cyanoanthracene-Substituted b-Cyclodextrins," National Science Foundation, Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), 6/1/90-11/30/93, $86,900
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Scholar/Fellow Program for Undergraduate Institutions, 6/1/92 - 5/31/94, $65,000.
"Diversion of Benzophenone Photochemistry to Isotoluene Enol Intermediates," PRF-B, 6/1/92 - 5/31/95, $20,000.
"Photopinacolization as a Route to Tetra-Capped b-Cyclodextrins," Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, 1/1/93-12/31/93, $10,825.
"Tetra-capped b-Cyclodextrins by Photopinacolization of Bis-Acetophenone-capped b-CDs," Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, 1/1/94-12/31/94, $8,955.
"Synthesis and Characterization of Dicyanoanthracene-Substituted b-Cyclodextrins," National Science Foundation, Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), 7/15/94-12/31/96, $119,600.
"Controlled Binding and Photocatalysis by Cyclodextrin Derivatives," Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award, 6/1/96-5/31/01, $60,000.
"Dye Capped b-Cyclodextrins: Second Generation Enzyme Mimics," National Institutes of Health, General Medical Sciences-Academic Research Enhancement Award, 9/1/97-8/31/00, $107,002.
"Upgrade of a NMR Spectrometer," National Science Foundation-Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities, 3/1/97, $160,000. (editor, principal author, co PI), funding denied.
"Purchase of a NMR Spectrometer," National Science Foundation-Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities, 9/1/97, $105,000. (editor, principal author, co PI).
"Purchase of a NMR Spectrometer," Defense University Research Instrumentation Program-Army Research Office, 8/22/97, $160,000. (editor, principal author, co PI), funding denied.
Carrie S. Callis and Christopher J. Abelt, "Pfizer Summer Undergraduate Reseach Fellowship," Pfizer Central Research, $5,000, 6/1/98 - 8/31/98.
"Water Soluble Diazo Compounds and Diazirines: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Control of Carbene Insertion Reactions with b-Cyclodextrin," National Science Foundation, 12/17/97, $154,369, funding denied. Resubmitted 9/23/98, $192,260, funding denied.
"Synthesis and Characterization of New TICT-Based Cyclodextrin Chemosensors and Models of PRODAN," National Science Foundation, 12/1/99, $202,026, funding denied.
Purchase of a Phase Fluorometer, Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), Office of Naval Research, 8/17/99, $90,000, funding denied.
"PRODAN: PICT or TICT?" Petroleum Research Fund, Type B, 9/1/00-8/31/03, $30,000.
"Dye-Capped Beta-Cyclodextrins as pH-Switchable Enzyme Models," National Science Foundation, submitted 12/18/00, $199,199, funding denied.
"Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactions of Thiobenzoates," National Science Foundation, submitted 12/2001, $241,940, funding denied.
"New Organosulfur Methods: PET Reactions of Thiobenzoates," NIH-AREA, 5/2002, $131,450, funding denied.
"Molecular Power Switches," National Science Foundation, submitted 01/2003, $204,091, funding denied.
"Molecular Power Switches," Jeffress Memorial Trust, submitted 02/2003, $30,000, funding denied.
"Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactions of Thiobenzoates," Petroleum Research Fund, Type B, $50,000, 9/1/03-8/31/06.
"PRODAN Molecular Sensors, "Jeffress Memorial Trust, 2/2004, $30,000, funding denied.
"PRODAN Molecular Sensors," National Science Foundation, 7/2004, $145,120, funding denied.
"Molecular Probe Arrays for Studying Fatty Acid Binding to Human Serum Albumin, "National Institutes of Health-AREA, 9/2005, $214,500, funding denied.
"Cholesterol Trafficking by Human Serum Albumin," National Institutes of Health-AREA, $216,000,
8/1/07-7/31/10. Extended to 7/31/11.
“Purchase of a 500 MHz NMR Spectrometer,” National Science Foundation, 03/01/11 - 02/28/12, $500,000, not funded.
"Hydrogen-Bonding Effects on the Fluorescence of Prodan Derivatives," Petroleum Research Fund, 09/01/11-08/31/14, not funded.
“PRODAN-based Chemosensors of Hydrogen-Bonding,” National Science Foundation, $257,606, 11/2010, not funded.
"Dual Sensor Probes of Lipid Bilayers," National Institutes of Health-AREA, $358,000, 09/01/2012-08/31/2015, not funded
"Dual Sensor Probes of Phospholipid Vesicles," National Science Foundation, $319,820, 09/01/2012-08/31/2015, not funded
"Hydrogen-Bonding Control of Solvatochromism and Non-Radiative Decay in the Fluorescence of PRODAN Derivatives," Petroleum Research Fund, $65,000, 09/01/2012-08/31/2015. Extended to 8/31/17.
"MRI: Acquisition of a Console System Upgrade to a 400MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer at the College of William and Mary," National Science Foundation, $228,343, 08/01/12-07/31/13, not funded.
"MRI: Acquisition-Upgrade of a 400MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer to Facilitate Faculty Research and Improve Student Research and Education," National Science Foundation, 08/01/13-07/31/14; requested $241,920; funded for $181,336.
“Cholesterol Transport by Human Serum Albumin using Dual-Sensor Fluorescent Model Compounds,” National Institutes of Health-AREA, 09/01/17-08/31/20, $359,290, not funded.
“Preparation and Evaluation of Dual-Sensor Fluorescent Model Compounds of Cholesterol for Studying Diffusive Transport by Serum Albumin,” National Institutes of Health-AREA, 09/01/2018-08/31/2021, $343,005, not funded.
“Stereochemistry of Aminofluorenone Excited State Deactivation by Alcohols,” PRF, 09/01/2019-08/31/2022, $70,000, not funded.
“Fluorescent Sensor Probe-Couples for Investigating Lipid Bilayers,” National Institutes of Health -AREA, 06/01/2021-05/31/2024, $354,500; resubmitted, 09/01/22-08/31/25, $376,750, not funded.
“A Unified Approach to the Study of Azafluorenimine Derivatives: Precursors for Stable Radicals, Reactive Synthetic Intermediates, and Luminescent Labelling Reagents” Jonathan R. Scheerer and Christopher J. Abelt, PRF, 07/01/2023-06/30/25, $70,000, not funded.
“A Unified Approach to the Study of Azafluorenimine Derivatives: Precursors for Stable Radicals, Reactive Synthetic Intermediates, and Luminescent Labelling Reagents” Jonathan R. Scheerer and Christopher J. Abelt, PRF, 01/01/2025-12/31/27, funded for $70,000.
Refereed Publications (*corresponding author)
1. Christopher J. Abelt and Heinz D. Roth*, "Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactions: Rearrangements of a Bicyclopropenyl Radical Cation," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 3840-3843.
2. Christopher J. Abelt, Heinz D. Roth*, and Marcia L. M. Schilling, "Electron-Transfer-Induced Rearrangements: Radical Cations of Bridged Bicyclobutanes," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 4178-4152.
3. Christopher J. Abelt and Heinz D. Roth*, "Radical Cations of Fulvenes: Planar or Twisted?" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 6814-4818.
4. P. M. Rentzepis, D. W. Steyert, Heinz D. Roth*, and C. J. Abelt, "Ion Pairs from Electron Donor-Acceptor Systems: A Comparison between Picosecond and CIDNP Studies," J. Phys. Chem. 1985, 89, 3955-3960.
5. Heinz D. Roth* and Christopher J. Abelt, "The Radical Cations of Bridged Bicyclo[5.1.0]octa-2,5-dienes---Open-Shell Bis-Homoaromatic Systems," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 2013-2019.
6. Heinz D. Roth*, Marcia L. M. Schilling, and Christopher J. Abelt, "Radical Cations of Cyclopentadiene Dimers - Facets of an Intriguing Energy Surface," Tetrahedron 1986, 42, 6157-6166.
7. W. D. Reents, H. D. Roth*, M. L. Schilling, and C. J. Abelt, "Evidence for Isomeric Radical Cations Derived from Diolefin Dimers - A Comparison Between Gas Phase and Solution," Int. J. Mass. Spect. Ion Processes 1986, 72, 155-168.
8. Heinz D. Roth*, Marcia L. M. Schilling, Christopher J. Abelt, "Electron-Transfer-Induced Dimerization of Spiro[2.4]heptadiene. A Facile Radical Cation Diels-Alder Reaction," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 6098-6099.
9. Christopher J. Abelt and Heinz D. Roth*, "Electron-Transfer Reactions of Bicyclo[4.2.1]nonatrienes: Formation of a Bishomoheptafulvene Radical Cation," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 6734-6729.
10. Orville L. Chapman* and Christopher J. Abelt, "Synthesis and Photochemistry of 1-Diazo-2-cyclopentene and 2-Diazobicyclo-[3.2.0]-hepta-3,6-diene," J. Org. Chem. 1987, 52, 1218-1221.
11. Robert J. McMahon, Christopher J. Abelt, Orville L. Chapman*, Jeffrey W. Johnson, Curtis L. Kreil, Jean-Pierre LeRoux, Anne M. Mooring, and Paul R. West, "1,2,4,6-Cycloheptatetraene: The Key Intermediate in Arylcarbene Interconversions and Related C7H6 Rearrangements," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 2456-2469.
12. Christopher J. Abelt*, Jennifer M. Pleier, "b-Cyclodextrin as a Molecular Reaction Vessel: Reactions of Included Phenylmethyl-diazirine," J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 2159-2162.
13. Bruce C. Puryear, Christopher J. Abelt, and Cirila Djordjevic*, "Synthesis and Properties of m-Oxo-bis(oxo-peroxo)-6-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-nicotinicacidvanadium(V) Complexes. C-6 Alkyl Substitution of Nicotinic Acid in Aqueous Peroxo Vanadium(V) Solutions," Inorg. Chim. Acta 1988, 149, 15-17.
14. Cirila Djordjevic*, Bruce C. Puryear, Nikola Vuletic, Christopher J. Abelt, and Sandra J. Sheffield, "Preparation, Spectroscopic Properties, and Characterization of Novel Peroxo Complexes of Vanadium(V) and Molybdenum(VI) with Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinic Acid N-Oxide," Inorg. Chem. 1988, 27, 2926-2932.
15. Tsutomu Miyashi , Yasutake Takahashi , Akinori Konno , Toshio Mukai , Heinz D. Roth*, Marcia L. Schilling, Christopher J. Abelt, "Electron transfer induced rearrangement of spirofluorenebicyclo[6.1.0] nonatriene to spirofluorenebarbaralane," J. Org. Chem, 1989, 54, 1445–1447.
16. Heinz D. Roth*, Marcia L. Schilling, Christopher J. Abelt, Tsutomu Miyashi, Yasutake Takahashi, Akinori Konno, and Toshio Mukai, "Electron-Transfer-Induced Reorganization of Bicyclo[6.1.0]-nonatriene and Derivatives," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 5130-5136.
17. Christopher J. Abelt* and Jennifer M. Pleier, "Stereoselective Azine Formation in the Decomposition of Phenyldiazomethanes," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1989, 111, 1795-1799.
18. Christopher J. Abelt*, Shelley H. Smith, and Jonathan S. Lokey, "Diazo Compound Complexes with b-Cyclodextrin: Formation and Reactions," Carboh. Res. 1989, 193, 119-130.
19. Angela M. Aquino, Christopher J. Abelt*, Karen L. Berger, Colleen M. Darragh, Sarah E. Kelley, and Michael V. Cossette, "Synthesis and Photochemistry of Some Anthraquinone-Substituted b-Cyclodextrins," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 5819-5824.
20. Karen L. Berger, Alexandra L. Nemecek, and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Photochemistry of Benzophenone-Capped b-Cyclodextrin," J. Org. Chem. 1991, 56, 3514-3520.
21. Shelley H. Smith, Sarah M. Forrest, David C. Williams, Jr., Margaret F. Cabell, Michael F. Acquavella, and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Regioselectivity of the Insertion Reactions of some Aromatic Diazo Compound Complexes with b-Cyclodextrin," Carbohydr. Res. 1992, 230, 289-297.
22. Christopher J. Abelt, "Reactions of b-Cyclodextrins with Aryl Carbenes and Diazo Compounds: Scope and Limitations," in 6th International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Editions de Sante, Paris, 1992.
23. Michael F. Acquavella, Mary E. Evans, Steven F. Farraher, Cedrine J. Nevoret and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Synthesis of a Water-Soluble Dicyanoanthracene as a Cap for b-Cyclodextrin," J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 2894-2897.
24. Heinz D. Roth*, Xue-Mei Du, Hengxin Weng, Prasad S. Lakkaraju, and Christopher J. Abelt, "Homoconjugation in Radical Cations of 7-Substituted Quadricyclanes and Norbornadienes," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 7744-7752.
25. Michael F. Acquavella, Mary E. Evans, Steven F. Farraher, Cedrine J. Nevoret and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Static and Dynamic Fluorescence Quenching of a Dicyanoanthracene-Capped b-Cyclodextrin," J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 1995, 385-388.
26. Brian K. Hubbard, Laurie A. Beilstein, Christine E. Heath and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Synthesis and Characterization of Dicyanoanthracene-Tethered b-Cyclodextrins, "J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 1996, 1005-1009.
27. Christopher T. Bibeau, Brian K. Hubbard and Christopher J. Abelt*, "A Facile Dialkyl Ether Cleavage and Rearrangement under Mildly Basic Conditions during the Williamson Synthesis with b-Cyclodextrin," J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1997, 437-438.
28. Robert L. Ivy, Ahmed M. Hafez and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Application of DMSO Acidities to the Wittig Reaction with 6-Deoxy-6-Formyl-b-Cyclodextrin," J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 6415 -6416.
29. Christine E. Heath, Maria C. Gillam, Carrie S. Callis, Robert R. Patto and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Ulose Formation by Selenoxide Elimination," Carbohyd. Res. 1998, 307, 371-373.
30. Adam L. Schreiber, Mark A. Fashing and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Unexpected Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Two Glucose Thiobenzoates,” J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2000, 953-955.
31. William E. Brenzovich, Jr., Ronald J. T. Houk, Sienna M. A. Malubay, Joshua O. Miranda, Katherine M. Ross and Christopher J. Abelt*, "The Synthesis and Properties of some Carboxy-Substituted Derivatives of Butter Yellow," Dyes and Pigments 2002, 52, 101-114.
32. William E. Brenzovich, Jr., Misty D. Odell, Joana P. Soares and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Structure and Properties of some Cresolphthalein Derivatives," Dyes and Pigments 2003, 59, 251-261.
33. Deborah C. Bebout*, Melissa M. Garland, Geoffrey S. Murphy, Edith V. Bowers, Christopher J. Abelt, Raymond J. Butcher Investigation of the mercury(II) coordination chemistry of tris[(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]amine by X-ray crystallography and NMR, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2003, 2578-2584.
34. Bethany C. Lobo and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Does PRODAN possess a Planar or Twisted Charge Transfer Excited State? Photophysical Properties of Two PRODAN Derivatives," J. Phys. Chem. A, 2003, 107 (50); 10938-10943.
35. Brittany N. Davis and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Models for Twisted PRODAN and Dimethylaminonaphthonitrile," J. Phys. Chem. A, 2005, 109, 1295-1298.
36. Steven S. Silvonek, Carl B. Giller and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Alternate Syntheses of Prodan and Acrylodan,” Org. Prep. Proced. Int. 2005, 37(6), 589-594.
37. Yuliya Dobrydneva, Christopher J. Abelt, Beth Dovel, Celina M. Thadigiri, Roy L. Williams, and Peter F. Blackmore*, “2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl Borate as a Prototype Drug for a Group of Structurally Related Calcium Channel Blockers in Human Platelets,” Mol. Pharmacol. 2006, 6, 247-256.
38. Megan A. Fikse, William E. Bylund, Nicolas E. Holubowitch and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Synthesis of Chlorothioformates from Xanthates,” Synthesis 2006, 4118-4120.
39. Alexandra M. Gade and Christopher J. Abelt*, “S-Alkyl Chlorothioformates from Xanthates,” Synthesis 2007, 4118-4120.
40. Meghan F. Moynihan, Joseph W. Tucker and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Primary Alkyl Bromides from Dimethylthiocarbamates,” Synthesis 2008, 3565-3568.
41. Luke M. Davis*, Christopher J. Abelt, Joseph L. Scott, Evguenia Orlova, and David W. Thompson*, “Latent Synthesis of Electrically Conductive Surface-Silvered Polyimide Films,” Applied Materials & Interfaces 2009, 1, 204-210.
42. Yuliya Dobrydneva, Emily Wilson, Christopher J. Abelt and Peter F. Blackmore*, “Phenolphthalein as a prototype drug for a group of structurally related calcium channel blockers in human platelets,” J. Cardiovascular Pharmacology 2009, 53, 231-240.
43. Renata Everett, Jillian Hamilton and Christopher Abelt*, “Preparation of 5-Bromo-2-naphthol: The Use of a Sulfonic Acid as a Protecting and Activating Group,” Molbank 2009, M602; doi:10.3390/M602
44. Renata K. Everett, Hong-An Ashley Nguyen, Christopher J. Abelt “Does PRODAN Possess an O-TICT Excited State? Synthesis and Properties of Two Constrained Derivatives,” J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 114, 4946–4950.
45. Christopher J. Abelt*, Tao Sun and Renata K. Everett “2,5-PRODAN: Synthesis and Properties,” Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 2011, 10 (4), 618 – 622.
46. Nicholas A. Lopez and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Synthesis and Properties of Two PRODAN-based Fluorescent Models of Cholesterol," J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chemistry, 2012, 238, 35-40.
47. Amy M. Green, Hannah R. Naughton, Zachariah B. Nealy, Robert D. Pike, and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Carbonyl-Twisted 6-Acyl-2-dialkylaminonaphthalenes as Solvent Acidity Sensors," J. Org. Chem. 2013, 78, 1784–1789.
48. Hannah R. Naughton and Christopher J. Abelt* "Local Solvent Acidities in β-Cyclodextrin Complexes with PRODAN Derivatives," J. Phys. Chem. B 2013, 117, 3323–3327.
49. Yuliia Y. Nikitina, Emil S. Iqbal, Hye Joo Yoon, and Christopher J. Abelt* "Preferential Solvation in Carbonyl-Twisted PRODAN Derivatives," J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, 9189–9195.
50. Alexandra H. Yoon, Laura C. Whitworth, Joel D. Wagner and Christopher J. Abelt*, "2,5-PRODAN Derivatives as Highly Sensitive Sensors of Low Solvent Acidity," Molecules 2014, 19, 6415-6427.
51. Amy M. Green and Christopher J. Abelt*, "Dual-Sensor Fluorescent Probes of Surfactant-Induced Unfolding of Human Serum Albumin" J. Phys. Chem B. 2015, 119, 3912−3919.
52. Marisa Daneri, Christopher J. Abelt, “A higher-order preferential solvation model for the fluorescence of two PRODAN derivatives in toluene-alcohol mixtures,” J. Photochem. Photobio. A: Chem. 2015, 310, 106–112.
53. Isaac G. Alty, Douglas W. Cheek, Tao Chen, David B. Smith, Emma Q. Walhout, and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Effects on the Fluorescence of PRODAN Derivatives,” J. Phys. Chem. A 2016, 120, 3518–3523; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.6b02398
54. Isaac G. Alty and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Stereoelectronics of the Hydrogen-Bond-Induced Fluorescence Quenching of 3-Aminofluorenones with Alcohols,” J. Phys. Chem. A 2017, 121, 5110–5115;
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.7b02142
55. Tao Chen, Samuel W. Lee and Christopher J. Abelt*, “1,5-Prodan Emits from a Planar Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Excited State,” ACS Omega 2018, 3, 4816-4823;
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b00423.
56. Rachel S. Anderson, Newton V. Nagirimadugu, Christopher J. Abelt*, “Fluorescence Quenching of Carbonyl-Twisted 5-Acyl-1-dimethylaminonaphthalenes by Alcohols,” ACS Omega 2019, 4, 14067-14073; https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b01905.
57. Nicholas H. Angello, Robert E. Wiley, Christopher J. Abelt* and Jonathan R. Scheerer*, “Synthesis and Spectrophotometric Analysis of 1-Azafluorenone Derivatives,” Molecules 2020, 25(15), 3358; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25153358.
58. K. Jacob Blackshaw, Marcus Marracci, Robert T. Korb, Naa-Kwarley Quartey, Annalise K. Ajmani, David J. Hood, Christopher J. Abelt, Belinda I. Ortega, Kate Luong, Andrew S. Petit* and Nathanael M. Kidwell*, “Dynamical signatures from competing, nonadiabatic fragmentation pathways of S-nitrosothiophenol,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2020, 22, 12187-12199; https://doi.org/10.1039/ D0CP00941E.
59. Kristen Lum, Stephanie M. Zielinski, and Christopher J. Abelt*, “Dansyl Emits from a PICT Excited State,” J. Phys. Chem. A 2021, 125, 1229-1233, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c11229.
60. Hannah J. Naldrett, and Christopher J.Abelt*, “Turn-on fluorescence of a 6-acyl-1-benzoindole by alcohols,” J. Photochem. Photobio. A: Chem. 2022, 432, 114121-141130; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114121
61. Christopher Abelt* and Kirsten Sweigart, “Twisted 8-Acyl-1-dialkyl-amino-naphthalenes Emit from a Planar Intramolecular Charge Transfer Excited State,” Photochem 2024, 4, 1-13; https://doi.org/10.3390/photochem4010001
62. Christopher Abelt*, Ian Day, Junkai Zhao, and Robert Pike, “Fluorescence of Half-Twisted 10-Acyl-1-methyltetrahydrobenzoquinolines,” Molecules 2024, 29(13) 3016; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133016
63. Orhan Acikgoz* and Christopher Abelt, “Use of Molecular Logic Gates for the Tuning of Chemosensor Dynamic Range,” Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4330; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184330
64. Jake Morrin, Matthew Petitt, and Christopher Abelt*, “1,5-Acrylodan: A Fluorescent Bioconjugate Sensor of Protic Environments,” Organics 2024, 5(4), 493-506; https://doi.org/10.3390/org5040026
Review of "Advances in Photochemistry," Volume 20. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 931.
Review of "Advances in Photochemistry," Volume 21. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 453.
Christopher J. Abelt, “Photoinduced electron transfer reactions of thiobenzoates,” The Spectrum 2007, 20, 18-21.
Invited Talks
1. "The Chemistry of Reactive Intermediates in Organized Media," West Virginia University, November 16, 1987, Professor John H. Penn host.
2. "The Chemistry of Reactive Intermediates in Organized Media," Virginia Commonwealth University, October 6, 1988, Professor R.G. Bass host.
3. "Synthesis and Photochemistry of Anthraquinone-Substituted b-Cyclodextrins," Rutgers University, October 26, 1989, Professor Heinz D. Roth host.
4. "The Chemistry of Some Reactive Intermediates in b-Cyclodextrin," University of Delaware, May 6, 1992, Professor Cynthia K. McClure, host.
5. "The Photochemistry of some Derivatized Cyclodextrins," Rice University, September 1994, Professor Paul S. Engel host.
6. "The Photochemistry of some Derivatized Cyclodextrins," University of Minnesota, March 1995, Professor Thomas R. Hoye host.
7. "The Photochemistry of some Derivatized Cyclodextrins," University of North Carolina, September 1995, Professor Malcolm D. E. Forbes host.
8. "The Photochemistry of some Derivatized Cyclodextrins," American University, September 1995, Professor Madeline Adamczeski, host.
9.
10. "pH Switchable Cyclodextrins," Old Dominion University, March 2003, Professor Jennifer Radkiewicz host
11. "pH Switchable Cyclodextrins," Wake Forest University, September 15, 2004, host Professor Paul B. Jones.
12. "pH Switchable Cyclodextrins," William & Mary, October, 1, 2004
13. “ICT Excited States of PRODAN,” Symposium on Chemical Research at Undergraduate Institutions, University of Maryland, October 9, 2009.
Contributed Talks
1. Christopher J. Abelt and Jennifer M. Pleier, "The Decomposition of Phenyldiazomethane over Water and Aqueous b-Cyclodextrin Solution," 65th Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 1987, Norfolk, VA.
2. C.J. Abelt, M.B. Millis and J.M. Pleier, "Insertion Reactions of Diazo Compound Complexes with b-Cyclodextrin," 66th Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 1988, Charlottesville, VA.
3. Christopher J. Abelt, Mari B. Millis and Jennifer M. Pleier, "b-Cyclodextrin Complexes of Diazirines and Diazo Compounds: Formation and Reactions," 195th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society and Third Chemical Congress of North America, June 1988, Toronto, Canada, ORGN #220.
4. Michael Cossette, Christopher J. Abelt and Angela M. Aquino, "Anthraquinone-Capped b-Cyclodextrins: A Host System for Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions," 196th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, September 1988, Los Angeles, CA, ORGN #173.
5. Christopher J. Abelt, Angela M. Aquino and Sarah E. Kelley, "Photochemistry of 6-(2-anthraquinonesulfonyl)-b-cyclodextrin," 67th Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, May 1989, Richmond, VA.
6. Christopher J. Abelt, Angela M. Aquino and Sarah E. Kelley, "Photochemistry of Some Anthraquinone-Substituted b-Cyclodextrins," 198th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, September 1989, Miami Beach, FL, ORGN #161.
7. Christopher J. Abelt and Karen L. Berger, "Photochemistry of Benzophenone-Capped b-Cyclodextrin," 199th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, April 1990, Boston, MA, ORGN #384.
8. Christopher J. Abelt, "Reactive Intermediates in Organized Media," 10th NSF Workshop on Reactive Intermediates, May 1991, Santa Barbara, CA.
9. Michael F. Acquavella, Cédrine J. Névoret and Christopher J. Abelt, "Synthesis and Properties of a Dicyanoanthracene-Capped b-Cyclodextrin," 203rd National American Chemical Society Meeting, April 1992, San Francisco, CA.
10. Christopher J. Abelt, "Reactions of b-Cyclodextrins with Aryl Carbenes and Diazo Compounds: Scope and Limitations," 6th International Cyclodextrin Symposium, April 1992, Chicago IL.
11. Christopher J. Abelt, "Synthesis and Characterization of Dicyanoanthracene-Tethered b-Cyclodextrins," 209th National American Chemical Society Meeting, April 1995, Anaheim, CA (CELL #75).
12. Christopher J. Abelt, "Dicyanoanthracene Derivatives," 3rd International Conference on Reactive Intermediates and Unusual Molecules, July 1997, Lake Tahoe, CA.
13. C. J. Abelt and A. L. Schreiber, "Photochemistry of Monothiobenzoyl Derivatives of Methyl Benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranosides," 218th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA, August 1999, ORGN 277
Contributed Papers
1. Christopher J. Abelt, "b-Cyclodextrin as a Molecular Reaction Vessel: Pyrolysis and Photolysis of Included Phenylmethyldiazirine," Organic Photochemistry Gordon Conference, July 1987, Proctor Academy, NH.
2. Christopher J. Abelt, Jonathan S. Lokey, Shelley H. Smith, and David C. Williams, Jr. "Regioselective Insertion Reactions of Aromatic Diazo Compound Complexes with b-Cyclodextrin," 200th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 1990, Washington D.C., ORGN #53.
3. Michael F. Acquavella, Mary E. Evans, Steven W. Farraher and Christopher J. Abelt, "Fluorescence Quenching of a Dicyanoanthracene-Capped b-Cyclodextrin with Amines," 4th Annual Symposium on Photoinduced Charge Transfer, University of Rochester, July 1993.
4. Michael F. Acquavella, Cedrine J. Nevoret, Christine E. Heath, Brian K. Hubbard and Christopher J. Abelt, "Synthesis of Substituted Dicyanoanthracenes," 207th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, April 1994, CHED 0062. (invited poster for Dreyfus Scholars).
5. Brian K. Hubbard, Michael F. Acquavella and Christopher J. Abelt, "Fluorescence Quenching as a Probe for Binding of Dicyanoanthracene-Derivatized b-Cyclodextrins," 7th Intra-American Photochemical Society Winter Conference, Clearwater Beach, January 1995.
6. Brian K. Hubbard, Michael F. Acquavella and Christopher J. Abelt, "Fluorescence Quenching as a Probe for Binding of Dicyanoanthracene-Derivatized b-Cyclodextrins," 34th National Organic Symposium, Williamsburg, June 1995 (#35).
7. Christopher T. Bibeau, Brian K. Hubbard and Christopher J. Abelt, "Dicyanoanthracenylmethyl Ether Rearrangement During the Williamson Synthesis with b-Cyclodextrin," 211th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, March 1996, ORGN 0231.
8. Christopher J. Abelt, Adam L. Schreiber and Mark A. Fashing, “Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reactions of Glucose Thiobenzoates,” Reaction Mechanisms Conference, June 2000, Madison, WI.
9. William E. Brenzovich, Jr., Sienna M. A. Malubay, and Christopher J. Abelt, “The Synthesis and Properties of some Carboxy-Substituted Derivatives of Butter Yellow," 222nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 2001, Chicago, IL. ORGN 155.
10. William E. Brenzovich, Jr. and Christopher J. Abelt, “Structure and Properties of some cresolphthalein derivatives, 225th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, March 2003, New Orleans, LA. ORGN 526.
11. Christopher J. Abelt, Joseph W. Tucker, Meghan F. Moynihan, "Alkyl bromides from dimethylthiocarbamates,” ORGN 658, 236th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 17-21, 2008.
12. Christopher J Abelt, Hannah R Naughton‡, Zachariah B Nealy, "Potential of PRODAN derivatives as chemosensors of the microacidity of cyclodextrin host-guest complexes," Undergraduate Research Poster Session #268, 243rd ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2012.
13. Isaac Alty‡ and Christopher Abelt, “Hydrogen-bonding control of solvatochromism and non-radiative decay in the fluorescence of 3-aminofluorenone derivatives,” 250th American Chemical Society National Meeting, CHED 326, Boston, MA, August 2015.
14. David B. Smith‡ and Christopher Abelt, “Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Effects on the Fluorescence of PRODAN Derivatives,” 2016 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), November 9 – 12, Tampa, FL.
University service
Steering Committee for the Commonwealth Center for Energy and the Environment (2013-17)
Merit System Review Steering Committee (2012-2013)
Council of Chairs and Program Directors (2009-2017, Co-Chair 2011, 2019-2022)
Co-Chair, Facilities and Administration Allocation ad hoc Committee (2010-2011)
Retention, Promotion and Tenure Committee (2008-2011, 2023-present)
Faculty Hearing Committee (2021-2024)
Personnel Policy Committee (2006-2009)
Procedural Review (2006-2009, alternate 2009-2012)
Faculty Assembly (2003-2006, 2015-2021)
President (2004-2005)
Vice President (2003-2004)
Secretary (2016-2021)
Executive Committee (2003-2006, 2016-2022)
Chair, Faculty Affairs (2015-2016)
Co-Chair, Faculty Committee on University Priorities (2004-2005)
Chair, Faculty Liaison Committee to the Board of Visitors (2003-2004)
Faculty Representative, Administration, Buildings and Grounds/Board of Visitors (2016-2021)
Ad hoc committee on revisions to the Faculty Handbook (2017-2020)
Ad hoc committee on William & Mary 2026 (2017-2018)
Ad hoc committee on revisions to the Faculty Assembly Constitution and Bylaws (2018-2019)
Committee on Graduate Studies (1991-2009)
Recording Secretary, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Virginia (1992-present)
Freshman and Sophomore Advisor, Pre-Major Advisor (1988-spring 1998, fall 2002-present)
Educational Policy Committee (spring 1994)
Dean Search Committee (1994)
Goldwater Scholarship Selection Committee (2002-2010)
Departmental Service
Music Department Chair (2019-2022)
Chemistry Department Chair (2009-2017)
Chemistry Department Associate Chair (2022-2023)
Chemistry Graduate Director (1991-2009)
Instrumentation Committee
Building Committee
Curriculum Committee
Nominations Committee
Professional Service
Member of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
Member of the American Chemical Society, Division of Organic Chemistry
External Reviewer for Chemistry Departments:
University of the South, 1997
Villanova University, 2007
University of Minnesota, Duluth, 2019
Virginia Military Institute, 2022
Beckman Scholars Advisory Panel (1997-1998)
Local Host for the 34th National Organic Symposium held at William and Mary, June 1995.
Reviewer for Smith 1/e, “Organic Chemistry,” Chapters 1-5
Reviewer for Joseph Hornback’s textbook, "Organic Chemistry," Chapters 1-9.
Reviewer for T.G. Solomons’ textbook, "Organic Chemistry," 6/e, Chapters 1-9.
Reviewer for Introduction to Biological Organic Chemistry by Tim Soderberg
Book reviewer for JACS: "Advances in Photochemistry," Volumes 20 and 21.
Reviewer for papers (date of review in paren.) for 2024: J. Org. Chem. (11/24), J. Fluoresc. (3/6, 8/15, 8/22), J. of Materials C (06/22), RSC Advances (3/18), Sensors (11/10; 11/21)