Dan O'Leary
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doleary47.bsky.social
Dan O'Leary
@doleary47.bsky.social
I'm a professor of chemistry at Pomona College in Claremont, California. I teach general and organic chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, and computational chemistry. My research interests span these realms + the history of science + 3D printing pedagogies.
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Pleased to share this set of ~35 multicolor 3D-printed molecular orbital models for organic chemistry classrooms, developed with students @pomonacollege.bsky.social. Article and 3D print files (no paywall): pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#ChemSky #CompChemSky #3DP #3Dprint #3DModels 🧪
Multicolor 3D-Printed Molecular Orbital Models for a First-Semester Organic Chemistry Course
We have developed a set of multicolor 3D-printed structural and molecular orbital models for use in a first-semester organic chemistry course. These models provide visual and tactile insights regarding aspects of organic structure, reactivity, and mechanistic “arrow pushing”. The set includes: 1. orbital models of σ and π bonding in methane and ethylene, 2. σCH–σ*CH hyperconjugation in staggered and eclipsed ethane conformations, 3. LUMO accessibility in SN2 electrophiles and HOMO–LUMO orbital interactions in SN2 transition states, 4. E2 transition state structure and orbital interactions in β-hydrogen removal and π bond formation, 5. σCH–pC hyperconjugation in the ethyl cation, 6. transition state structure and σCH–pC orbital interactions in a carbocation 1,2-hydride shift, 7. late and early, respectively, Br• and Cl• H atom radical abstraction transition state structures and SOMO orbitals, 8. bromonium ion structure and LUMO orbital, 9. protonated epoxide ion and neutral epoxide structures and LUMO orbitals, 10. transition state structure and orbital interactions in a hydroboration reaction, 11. transition state structure and orbital interactions in the lithium aluminum hydride reduction of formaldehyde, and 12. π molecular orbitals in 1,3-butadiene. The prints are made with hobby-grade 5-color 3D fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers and sized to provide compact take-home class handouts for each student or projected in-class with a document camera. Models are fabricated with orbital or electron density surface bisections and text annotations to enhance information content. Student perceptions of this set of 3D-printed molecular models are generally favorable and have improved their understanding of course materials.
pubs.acs.org
Fischer's discovery of the configuration of (+)-glucose, described differently in organic textbooks, remains for me a must tell story as the semester winds down. Symmetry tests are timeless. This animation illustrates the end group interchange for sorting glucose (3) and mannose (4). #chemsky 🧪🎉
May 1, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The final 3D orbital print of the semester is a sweet one! Organic chemistry students @pomonacollege.bsky.social received a model illustrating the anomeric effect. An unexpected bonus (scroll down) was a visit by Cecil the Sagehen! ##chemsky #compchemsky #3dp 🧪
April 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Biomolecular 3D orbital prints were featured this week in organic chemistry @pomonacollege.bsky.social! Class members went home with a student-designed alpha helix model showing i, i+4 N-H---O=C hydrogen bond orbital overlap. #chemsky #compchemsky #3dp 🧪
April 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Monday's 3D print for my organic chemistry class @pomonacollege.bsky.social: an orbital interaction that partly defines the water dimer hydrogen bond. Orbital phases displayed in Pomona-Pitzer colors, appropriate for admitted students day! ELO warming the space. #chemsky #compchemsky #3dp 🧪⚗️🧪
April 15, 2025 at 9:12 PM
These 3D-printed d-orbital models are ready to parachute into an active learning-based general chemistry class @pomonacollege.bsky.social. Some assembly required! #3dp #chemsky #compchemsky 🧪⚗️🧪
April 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The aldol reaction was front and center in today's organic class! The orbital prints are a Houk group transition state for a lithium enolate + aldehyde reaction and a @pomonacollege.bsky.social student-designed Burgi-Dunitz print. #chemsky #3dp #compchemsky
March 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Happy to be participating in the "3D Printing in Chem Ed" symposium at #ACSSpring2025! Attendees will receive a Burgi-Dunitz orbital model designed by a @pomonacollege.bsky.social student. If you miss the talk, visit their poster and pick one up! Details are below. #ChemSky #CompChemSky #3DP 🧪
March 21, 2025 at 2:55 AM
A few 3D prints from this week's organic chemistry class: an NBO enolate alkylation transition state and a pi MO model for the enolate of acetaldehyde. We reviewed the SN2 reaction and noted the larger "on-C" orbital of the nucleophilic pi2 MO! #ChemSky #CompChemSky #3DP #3Dprint #3DModels #prusa 🧪
March 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Dan O'Leary
If you are attending the Spring ACS Meeting in San Diego, please come and join us on Monday night for a showcase of UCLA research and to meet UCLA students, postdocs, faculty, alumni, and friends! All ACS attendees are welcome! #ChemSky
Join us for the UCLA Research Showcase on 3/24, 5-7 pm at the Spring ACS Meeting in San Diego. Meet UCLA community members, explore posters, discuss science, and enjoy refreshments. All ACS attendees welcome! Please pass this along! RSVP: bit.ly/UCLAACSShowc...
February 15, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Reposted by Dan O'Leary
We're back!!!
First preprint of the year (3 more on the way).
Here, we used microalgae to produce a 3D printable resin:
Squeeze the oil from the microalgae, a couple of simple reactions (#chemsky), mixy mixy and there you have a strong bioresin.

chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
February 12, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Dan O'Leary
Happy National Periodic Table Day with this community artwork our Chemunity group created last semester! #chemsky
February 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
What's on your chemistry building? When Seaver North Laboratory @pomonacollege.bsky.social was being built in the 1960’s, the architects asked a faculty member what sort of sculpture would be emblematic of the field of chemistry.
February 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Reposted by Dan O'Leary
Proud to share:

"Ensemble docking for intrinsically disordered proteins"

from Dartmouth undergrad Anjali Dhar 24' and grad student Tommy Sisk. We present ensemble docking strategies for IDPs that, remarkably, seem to work!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Code: github.com/paulrobustel...
January 31, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Water lone pair 3D orbital prints made their NBO debut in organic chemistry today at pomonacollege.bsky.social! #ChemSky #CompChemSky #3DP #3Dprint #3DModels 🧪
January 31, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Pleased to share this set of ~35 multicolor 3D-printed molecular orbital models for organic chemistry classrooms, developed with students @pomonacollege.bsky.social. Article and 3D print files (no paywall): pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#ChemSky #CompChemSky #3DP #3Dprint #3DModels 🧪
Multicolor 3D-Printed Molecular Orbital Models for a First-Semester Organic Chemistry Course
We have developed a set of multicolor 3D-printed structural and molecular orbital models for use in a first-semester organic chemistry course. These models provide visual and tactile insights regarding aspects of organic structure, reactivity, and mechanistic “arrow pushing”. The set includes: 1. orbital models of σ and π bonding in methane and ethylene, 2. σCH–σ*CH hyperconjugation in staggered and eclipsed ethane conformations, 3. LUMO accessibility in SN2 electrophiles and HOMO–LUMO orbital interactions in SN2 transition states, 4. E2 transition state structure and orbital interactions in β-hydrogen removal and π bond formation, 5. σCH–pC hyperconjugation in the ethyl cation, 6. transition state structure and σCH–pC orbital interactions in a carbocation 1,2-hydride shift, 7. late and early, respectively, Br• and Cl• H atom radical abstraction transition state structures and SOMO orbitals, 8. bromonium ion structure and LUMO orbital, 9. protonated epoxide ion and neutral epoxide structures and LUMO orbitals, 10. transition state structure and orbital interactions in a hydroboration reaction, 11. transition state structure and orbital interactions in the lithium aluminum hydride reduction of formaldehyde, and 12. π molecular orbitals in 1,3-butadiene. The prints are made with hobby-grade 5-color 3D fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers and sized to provide compact take-home class handouts for each student or projected in-class with a document camera. Models are fabricated with orbital or electron density surface bisections and text annotations to enhance information content. Student perceptions of this set of 3D-printed molecular models are generally favorable and have improved their understanding of course materials.
pubs.acs.org
January 24, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Earlier last year we lost Frank Anet (UCLA), a giant in the field of physical organic chemistry and magnetic resonance. This open-access tribute is a measure of gratitude for a beloved advisor and mentor. Discover his story below! @uclacb.bsky.social #ChemSky 🧪
In Memoriam: The Life and Scientific Accomplishments of Frank A. L. Anet (1926–2024)
A memorial review and tribute detailing the life and scientific accomplishments of Frank A. L. Anet, a pioneer of NMR spectroscopy who discovered bedrock principles in organic chemistry and magnetic ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM