LOWELL D. KISPERT Research Professor Emeritus PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY the role of carotenoids in photosynthesis, free radicals studied by electron spin resonance and electron-nuclear double resonance B.A., 1962, St. Olaf College; Ph.D., 1966, Michigan State University; Postdoctoral Fellow, 1966-67, Varian; Postdoctoral Fellow, 1967-1968, Carnegie Mellon University. Office: 1007D Shelby Hall Telephone: (205) 348-7134 fax (205) 348-9104 affiliations: Center for Materials for Information Technology

---

Research Interests

Structure and reaction mechanism of free radicals in organic single crystals, glasses, powders, films, and solution using electron spin resonance, electron-nuclear double resonance, electron-electron double resonance and electron spin echo methods. Radiation chemistry, coal chemistry, conducting polymers, photochemistry, electrochemistry, archival lifetime of flexible magnetic recording media, and the role of carotenoids in photosynthesis.

Description of Research:

For a number of years, electron-electron double resonance (ELDOR), electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations have been carried out to establish free radical reaction mechanisms in irradiated media as a function of host lattice. In the past we have been investigating the molecular and free radical processes that occur in the formation of conducting polymers. Photosynthesis related studies and coal chemistry are of current interest. Simultaneous electrochemical and EPR studies of carotenoid cation radicals and dications have shown the two-electron transfer character of carotenoids. In addition we are interested in understanding the energy transfer between carotenoids and chlorophyll, of value in the development of solar converters based on photosynthesis as well as the structure of carotenoid excited states, radical cations and triplet states.

---

Representative Publications

"Pulsed EPR and DFT Characterization of Radicals Produced by Photo-Oxidation of Zeaxanthin and Violaxanthin on Silica-Alumina." Focsan, A. L.; Bowman, M. K.; Konovalova, T. A.; Molnar, P.; Deli, J.; Dixon, D. A.; Kispert, L. D. J. Phys. Chem. B 112, 1806-1819 (2008).

"Pulsed Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Studies of Carotenoid Oxidation in Cu(II)-Substituted MCM-41 Molecular Sieves." Lawrence, J.; Focsan, A. L.; Konovalova, T. A.; Molnar, P.; Deli, J.; Bowman, M. K.; Kispert, L. D. J. Phys. Chem. B 112, 5449-5457 (2008).

"Water Soluble Complexes of Carotenoids with Arabinogalactan." Polyakov, N. E.; Leshina, T. V.; Meteleva, E. S.; Dushkin, A. V.; Konovalova, T. A.; Kispert, L. D. J. Phys. Chem. B 113, 275-282 (2009).

"Degradation of γ-irradiated linear perfluoroalkanes at high dosage." Allayarov, S. R.; Konovalikhin, S. V.; Olkhov, Y. A.; Jackson, V. E.; Kispert, L. D.; Dixon, D. A.; Ila, D.; Lappan, U. J. Fluorine Chem. 128, 575-586 (2007).

"Comparative studies on radical cation formation from carotenoids and retinoids." Kildahl-Andersen, G.; Konovalova, T. A.; Focsan, A. L.; Kispert, L. D.; Anthonsen, T.; Liaaen-Jensen, S. Tetrahedron Lett. 48, 8196-8199 (2007).

"Density Functional Theory Study of the β-Carotene Radical Cation and Deprotonated Radicals." Gao, Y.; Focsan, A. L.; Kispert, L. D.; Dixon, D. A. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 24750-24756 (2006).

"Antioxidant and redox properties of supramolecular complexes of carotenoids with β-glycyrrhizic acid." Polyakov, N. E.; Leshina, T. V.; Salakhutdinov, N. F.; Konovalova, T. A.; Kispert, L. D. Free Rad. Biol. Med. 40, 1804-1809 (2006).

"DFT and Experimental Examination of the Oxidation/Reduction of a Thiol-Substituted Carotenoid with Gold versus Glassy Carbon Electrodes." Gao, Y.; Focsan, A. L.; Li, Y. Y.; Kispert, L. D. J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 10091-10097 (2006).

"Host-guest complexes of carotenoids with β-glycyrrhizic acid." Polyakov Nikolay, E.; Leshina Tatyana, V.; Salakhutdinov Nariman, F.; Kispert Lowell, D. J. Phys. Chem., B 110, 6991-6998 (2006).

"Persistent spectral hole burning in europium-doped sodium tellurite glass." Pulluru, C. R.; Kalluru, R. R.; Reddy, B. R.; Konovalova, T. A.; Kispert, L. D. Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 091107/1-091107/3 (2005).

Dr. Kispert's complete publication list (2/10/09)