Dr. Layne A. Morsch
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Organic, Bio-Organic and Green Chemistry
B.S. Chemistry: Minnesota State University Mankato (1991)
Ph.D. Organic: The University of Illinois – Chicago (2001)
I teach the following courses:
CHE 267 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 268 Organic Chemistry I lab
CHE 269 Organic Chemistry II
CHE 271 Organic Chemistry II lab
CHE 263 ECCE: Energy & the Environment
Research
Organic Synthesis of Carboxypeptidase B Inhibitors
This work will begin with synthesis of imidazolyl amines which are inhibitors of carboxypeptidase B (CpB), a zinc exopeptidase enzyme. Preliminary data shows that imidazole itself is a weak inhibitor of CpB. I am proposing synthesis of a series of compounds (substituted imidazoles) that will be inhibitors of CpB and should clarify several aspects of CpB binding. Once the inhibitors have been synthesized and characterized, we will analyze their ability to inhibit CpB . The inhibition kinetics experiments will show how effective each inhibitor is by how much it slows reaction of the enzyme with a known substrate. Students working on this project should have one year of organic chemistry with laboratory.
Green Organic Chem
We are also exploring green reactions that can be used in teaching green organic chemistry laboratory principles. We are currently studying organic reactions in aqueous solutions in place of organic solvents and in particular green Wittig reactions.
Recent presentations include:
Using Aqueous Wittig Reactions to Teach Green Organic Chemistry, D. Tiburzi, L. Deak and L.A. Morsch, L, 2012 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, State College, Pennsylvania. (August 2012)
Separation and Identification of Components from Juniperus Sabina Extract that Negatively Impact the Growth and Survival of HeLa Cells, M. Frakes, L.A. Morsch, L. Vazquez and R. Landsberg, 2012 UIS Student Arts and Research Symposium. (April 2012)
Green Organic Reactions in Aqueous Media, B. Meyer, H. Schuster and L.A. Morsch, L, 2012 UIS Student Arts and Research Symposium. (April 2012)
Inhibition Kinetics of Carboxypeptidase B, J. Novak and L.A. Morsch, 2012 UIS Student Arts and Research Symposium. (April 2012)
Kinetics of the Proteolytic Enzyme, Carboxypeptidase B. I.A. Noor and L.A. Morsch, 2011 UIS Science Research Symposium. (April 2011)
Synthesis of Inhibitors of Carboxypeptidase B, L.T. Huynh and L.A. Morsch, 2010 NSF URC Summer Research Symposium, Chicago, IL. (October 2010)
Comparison of scanning probe microscopy hands-on experiments throughout the undergraduate chemistry curriculum, 2010 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Detnton, TX. (August 2010)
LFM of Self-Assembled Monolayers Following Nanolithography by Selective Ozonolysis. B. J. McLeod and L.A. Morsch, 2010 UIS Science Research Symposium. (April 2010)
Service
Co-chair UIS StARS (Student Arts & Research Symposium)
Pre-Health Advising Committee
Member Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
Faculty mentor for UIS Chemistry Club
