Ana L. Moore is a Regents Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis at Arizona State University. She received her doctorate in organic chemistry working with Professor William C. Herndon at Texas Tech University. She worked at the University of Washington as a postdoctoral associate with Professor Neil Andersen before moving to Arizona State University in 1976.
With her colleagues Devens Gust and Tom Moore, she has led a team of students and postdoctoral associates to design and build bio-inspired molecular systems, which contributed to the development of the field known as artificial photosynthesis. The present goals include the construction and use of synthetic systems to better understand key light-driven and catalytic aspects of photosynthesis and the development of design principles upon which energy-converting artificial systems could be based. More complex solar-to-fuel converters, including hybrid systems consisting of molecular components, semiconductor oxides, living cells and heterogeneous/homogeneous catalysts are presently being developed.
Artificial photosynthetic constructs can in principle operate more efficiently than natural photosynthesis because they can be rationally designed to optimize solar energy conversion for meeting human demands rather than the multiple needs of an organism competing for growth and reproduction in a complex ecosystem. The artificial photosynthetic constructs that we study consist primarily of covalently linked synthetic chromophores, electron donors and acceptors, and proton donors and acceptors that carry out the light absorption, electron transfer, and proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes characteristic of photosynthetic cells. PCET and the transport of protons over tens of Å are important in all living cells because they are a fundamental link between redox processes and the establishment of transmembrane gradients of proton electrochemical potential, known as proton-motive force (PMF), which is the unifying concept in bioenergetics. Moreover, in nature the management of proton activity in space and time is key to the efficient, low overpotential catalysis characteristic of myriad biochemical processes including water oxidation, oxygen reduction and the synthesis of energy rich biomass. Artificial photosynthetic constructs, based on mimicry of PCET found in photosynthesis, provides a basis for discovering the principles upon which these catalysts operate. This is a step towards developing efficient water/oxygen redox catalysts for electrolysis and fuel cells, and catalysts for the efficient conversion of intermittent, renewable energy to chemical potential for storage.
We have chosen a benzimidazole phenol (BIP) system as a platform for the study of PCET because with appropriate substitutions it is possible to design assemblies where one or multiple proton transfers can accompany the oxidation of the phenol. We can envision systems based on BIPs where through a Grotthuss-type process redox-driven translocation of protons over long distances (>>10 Å) can be obtained.
S J Mora, E. Odella, G F Moore, D Gust, T A Moore, and Ana Moore, "Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Artificial Photosynthetic Systems”Acc. Chem. Res.,51, 445–453 (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts
Spring 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Fall 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Spring 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Fall 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Spring 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Fall 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 233 | General Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 234 | General Organic Chemistry II |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Spring 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Fall 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
CHM 501 | Current Topics in Chemistry |
Fall 2017 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
Editorial Advisory Board of Accounts of Chemical Research 2003–2006
Mentoring (2016):
Postdoctoral Associates (in collaboration with D Gust and T. Moore): Gerdenis Kodis Matias Villalba Sabrina J. Mora
Graduate Students: Marely Tejeda-Ferrari (graduated, August 2016)
Undergraduate Students: Juan José Romero (Fulbright fellow from Argentina) Uma Vrudhula (Honors College) Morgan Davis (Honors College) Jasmin Rand Spencer Bayless
Honors Contract (2016):
The organic chemistry courses CHM 233 and 234 taught by Dr. Pillai, Prof. G. Moore and Prof. Stephanopoulos offered Honors Enrichment Contracts. The requirements for the contract consisted of active participation in biweekly meetings of approximately one hour to discuss assigned papers in an informal setting. The discussions were moderated by Prof. Ana Moore, who also was in charge of choosing the subject of the discussions. The discussions were centered on applications of organic chemistry to recent scientific and industrial developments primarily related to sustainability. The assigned papers were from the primary scientific literature (Science and Nature, etc.) and also from the popular literature (New York Times, National Geographic, New Yorker Magazine, Chemical and Engineering News, etc.). Each semester, approximately 30 students signed for the contract.