Chem and Biochem at the College of Charleston

10/14/2026

Coming SC-ACS Events - https://mailchi.mp/e1227d959f46/sc-acs-october-2026

10/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DtuciTMy7/

The Soai reaction – developed by 2026 chemistry laureate Kenso Soai – is considered one of the most elegant chemical experiments ever conducted.

In the early 1990s, there were several known examples of autocatalytic reactions, but none were asymmetric. By experimenting with many different molecules, Soai succeeded in finding a chiral substance – 5-pyrimidyl alkanol – which could create itself. In a publication from 1995, he describes this revolutionary experiment. He started with a two percent excess of one enantiomer of 5-pyrimidyl alkanol and ended with an excess of 87 percent.

For another eight years, Soai continued his search for the ultimate autocatalytic process. In 2003, he was finally able to present a chemical reaction that formed an excess of an enantiomer, which then formed copies of itself. This was the first time anyone had successfully created chirality from a non-chiral combination of molecules since the dawn of life.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.”

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08/28/2026

Hi everyone! We're hiring - come be our colleague!

The College of Charleston Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is looking to hire a tenure-track assistant professor in the area of organic chemistry. We have great colleagues, wonderful students, a beautiful city to call our home, and fantastic facilities for undergraduate research and education.

The link to the post is below, and broadly speaking, we STRONGLY encourage organic chemists across our discipline to apply!

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Charleston invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position beginning in Fall 2027. A Ph.D. in organic chemistry or in a related discipline is required. We seek a dynamic tea...

08/10/2026

Reposting! Come join us! We’re a growing campus, with gray faculty, students, and facilities! We’re looking for a tenure track assistant professor of organic chemistry. The link to the position is below:

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Charleston invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position beginning in Fall 2027. A Ph.D. in organic chemistry or in a related discipline is required. We seek a dynamic tea...

07/15/2026

Hey there chemists and friends of chemists looking for positions at a PUI! We’re hiring! The College of Chalreston Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is looking for a tenure-track assistant professor in organic chemistry. Our department is a great place for undergraduate-driven research, with superb facilities, over $3 million in research instrumentation, and our oustanding students!

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Charleston invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position beginning in Fall 2027. A Ph.D. in organic chemistry or in a related discipline is required. We seek a dynamic tea...

07/02/2026

Dr. Kate Mullaugh explains the science behind fireworks...

College of Charleston chemistry professor Kate Mullaugh explains how fireworks get their brilliant colors, brightening our skies every Fourth of July.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

04/01/2026

Sign up now for the 2026 Undergraduate Poster Session & Awards Dinner - https://mailchi.mp/781e84badf5b/sc-acs-march-6750149
April 8 5:30 PM
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC

03/11/2026

JEAN DREYFU PUBLIC LECTURE: "Basic Chemistry and One Interface with Medicine, Pharma, and Biotech"
Scott J. Miller, Sterling Professor of Chemistry, Yale University
6:00 PM Thursday, March 12, 2026
Michael J. Auerbach Auditorium
202 Calhoun Street, College of Charleston

ABSTRACT: An overview of contributions of basic chemistry, primarily in the area of synthetic chemistry, to human medicine will be presented. A central theme will be the impact of the discovery of new reactions, catalysts and strategies on both the identification of new drugs and their production on scale. The rapid translation of new ideas about chemical and biological synthesis to real-life settings will be emphasized. Several case studies under investigation in my laboratory, involving the challenge of achieving selective chemistry in complex molecular environments, will be discussed. The lecture will conclude with reflections on the nature of some present-day challenges of this type, and their possible impact on the discovery of complex, potentially selective, bioactive medicines.

03/07/2026

JEAN DREYFUS LECTURESHIP

SCOTT J. MILLER
STERLING PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY
YALE UNIVERSITY
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PUBLIC LECTURE: "BASIC CHEMISTRY AND ONE INTERFACE WITH MEDICINE, PHARMA AND BIOTECH"
THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026
PUBLIC LECTURE – 6:00 PM

TECHNICAL SEMINAR: "SEARCHING FOR SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REACTIONS IN COMPLEX MOLECULAR ENVIRONMENTS"
FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH, 2026
SEMINAR - 2:00 PM

Michael J. Auerbach Auditorium, SNES Room 129
College of Charleston
202 Calhoun St., Charleston, SC