Dr. Allison Predecki

Research Interests

My research centers around two areas, bioorganic chemistry and synthetic methodology. Bioorganic chemistry links the two disciplines of organic chemistry and biology. Whereas synthetic methodology focuses on the development of new methods for the synthesis of organic molecules.

Technical Summary

My first project involves the identification of organic molecules that are capable of inducing damage to DNA when exposed to ultraviolet light. My research group synthesizes different aryl sulfoxides, tests their ability to cleave DNA and determines their binding affinity towards DNA.

Cycloaddition reactions are commonly used to construct rings in organic synthesis. For example, alkenes can combine with 1,3-dipoles to form five-membered rings. Students in my research group also work on a project where they study the feasibility of a new cycloaddition reaction using carbenes and 1,3-dipoles to form four-membered rings.

Publications

*Indicates Shippensburg University Undergraduate Student Researcher

• Mayo, D.J.^*; Turner, D. ^*; Zucconi, B.^* ; Predecki, A.H., “DNA Cleavage by Photolysis of Aryl Sulfoxides,” Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2007, 17, 6116-6118.
• Mohler, D.L.; Downs, J. R.; Hurley-Predecki, A. L.; Sallman, J.R.; Gannett, P.M.; Shi, X., “DNA Cleavage by the Photolysis of Cyclopentadienyl Metal Complexes: Mechanistic Studies and Sequence Selectivity of Strand Scission by CpW(CO)₃CH₃,” Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2005, 70, 9093-9102.
• Pietsch, E.C.; Hurley, A.L.; Scott E.; Duckworth B.P.; Welker, M.E.; Leone-Kabler, S.; Townsend, A.; Torti, F.; Torti, S. “Novel Phase II Enzyme Inducers: Oxathiolene Oxides.” Biochemical Pharmacology, 2003, 65, 1261-1269.
• Mohler, D. L.; Barnhardt, E. K.; Hurley, A. L. “The Relative Efficiencies of CpM(CO)_nCH₃ and CpM(CO)_nPh (M = Cr, Mo, W, and Fe) Complexes in Photoinduced DNA Cleavage.” Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2002, 67, 4982-4984.
• Hurley, A. L.; Maddox, M. P III; Scott, T. L.; Flood, M. R.; Mohler, D. L. “Photoinduced DNA Cleavage by Cyclopentadienyl Metal Complexes Conjugated to DNA Recognition Elements.” Organic Letters, 2001, 3, 2761-2764.
• Welker, M. E.; Torti, S. V.; Torti, F. M.; Townsend, A. J.; Pietsch, E.; Hurley, A. L. “Five Member Ring Sulfenate and Thiosulfinate Esters.” U.S. Patent, US 6,242,478 B1, 2001.
• Hurley, A. L.; Mohler, D. L. “Organometallic Photonucleases: Synthesis and DNA-Cleavage Studies of Cyclopentadienyl Metal-Substituted Dendrimers Designed to Increase Double-Strand Scission.” Organic Letters, 2000, 2, 2745-2748.
• Hurley, A. L.; Welker, M. E.; Day, C. S. “Reactions of transition metal h1-propargyl complexes with sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide:  transition-metal-carbon bond cleaving reactions of the cycloadducts which yield 1,2-oxathiole-2-oxides and –2,2-dioxides.” J. Organometallic Chem., 2000, 598, 150-159.
• Hurley, A. L.; Welker, M. E.; Day, C. S. “Reactions of Transition-Metal h1-Propargyl and h1-Allenyl Complexes with Sulfur Dioxide and Transition-Metal-Carbon Bond Cleaving Reactions of the Cycloadducts Which Yield Cyclic Sulfenate Esters," Organometallics, 1998, 17, 2832-2838.

Current Group Members

• Mercedes Naugle, Senior
• Alexis Hoffman, Senior
• Megan Doleschal, Sophomore

Previous Group Members

• Heather Rensch: M.S. candidate at Bucknell University
• Chase Crawley: M.S. Washington State University, Chemist at Albany Molecular Research
• Alicia Briegel: M.S. Villanova University, Chemist at DuPont
• Alison Coleman
• Sarah Nenninger: Chemist at Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Amanda Crowder: High School Chemistry Teacher, Franklin County, PA
• Ivy Otieno
• Cristina Sacco: M.S. East Carolina University, Instructor at Wake Technical Community College
• Patricia Force: Chemist at Johnson & Johnson
• Joshua Kahl: Chemist at Lancaster Labs (Eurofin)
• Christopher Divito: Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh, Postdoctoral Fellow University of Pittsburgh
• Daniel Mayo: Ph.D. Miami University of Ohio, Postdoctoral Fellow at Cal Tech
• David Turner: Chemist at BioFire Diagnostic

Personal Statement

I enjoy spending time with my family, practicing yoga and gardening.