Suzuki Coupling #chempaperaday 85-95

These are the papers that we're required to read for the organometallic chemistry (not exactly, but anyway) course I am taking. The topic is Suzuki coupling and some examples of it. Since I've read them all, it's time to share and record.

Chem.Rev. 1995, 2457
ACIE 2001, 4544
JOC 1999, 23
JOC 1994, 639
JACS 2000, 4020
JACS 2002, 9346
JACS 2005, 4685
ACIE 2004, 1871
JACS 2001, 10099
JACS 2002, 13662
ACIE 2003, 5749

Update: #chempaperaday and other things...

It's been a very long time I haven't written any posts. Well, the Fall semester started and it's been incredibly busy. I teach two lab sections, grade papers, hold office hours, answer tons of emails from students (this was unexpected!), take my own courses and study for them AND do the assignments! I also try to keep my research alive and move on to further steps in my "projects." 

If anyone is wondering, #chempaperaday is still alive and I do read papers almost everyday. The problem is most of these papers are related with my research and I do not want to write about them. Obviously,  I am trying to make new compounds. So, just by following the papers I read, one might figure out what I am onto (more or less). That's why I will keep them to myself.

I have read other papers too. But, as I mentioned above I have been busy and trying to figure out my new life schedule. So, I couldn't really focus on the blog. Tens of different blog post topics and ideas have come to my mind while I was dealing with all those stuff. Now that I am more comfortable with my schedule and more organized, I will write posts more often. The next post is coming tonight!

Thanks if you are reading here.

Grad school update

It's been 2.5 weeks since I started. The first week, I was exhausted when I got home. There were a few days that I fell asleep! I think I started to get better (especially physically) during the second week. This week, I am sure I am fit enough to think and plan the next day and conduct the experiments. I am now in a better position in terms of my personal schedule. I have just started to go back to reading my books and textbooks again. I am really happy that I started grad school early in the summer without even giving any break after my graduation from the college.

About research? I have been reading some literature and running experiments. Although I am having hard time to characterize my paramagnetic metal complexes, I am learning a lot. Overall, I like what I am doing and it totally makes sense.

Calm Before the Storm

It's an exciting night for me. Although I don't get excited often, this night is special. Tomorrow is officially the first day in grad school. So, my heart beats a little faster than it regularly does. I am not sure how many hours I will sleep (if I can sleep any).

I have always thought the best music was produced in 80's and 90's. OK, this one was released in 2000. But, it belongs to 90's for me!

The sky is so clear tonight;
It's so calm before the storm.
All the stars shine so bright
Like the world has been reborn.
I'm think I'm in a dream tonight.
It's still calm before the storm.
But I dream of rising light
A sign it's time to be reborn.

It's still calm before the storm.

Not every dream comes true

If you don't know it yet, I am a senior undergraduate chemistry student and graduating in  less than 3 months. I started my studies knowing that an undergraduate level of knowledge in chemistry would  never be enough for me. I want to know more chemistry and I will try to keep learning more no matter how much time it takes to satisfy myself.

Like everyone else, I had a dream too and it was to have my Ph.D. in chemistry at MIT. I will not give names here who I really wanted to work for though. Anyway, so I applied to MIT and I got rejected from my dream school. Does it hurt? Yes, it does. Do I know why I got rejected? Of course not. But, I can think of a few reasons for my rejection. After all, it is the most famous school in the world and thousands of people from tens of countries apply each year. So, I don't feel too bad. I know I lost my chance to people who are great. You can say that I still have a chance to do a post.doc. there, but it won't be the same.

Anyway, I had to write. 

PS: If anyone is wondering, yes I have been accepted to a few schools. But, I will not announce my final decision until I accept an offer and make it official. But, I can say that I have been having one of the most challenging periods of my life. I guess the second most challenging.