Cornelia Flender

Mentors: Justin DuBois and Richard Zare

Project Title: Reaction Monitoring using Mass Spectrometry

Biography
Cornelia Flender is a postdoctoral scholar in the group of Richard Zare at Stanford University. She started her career in the field of mass spectrometry instrumentation development in 2007 as part of the research and development team within Agilent Technologies. Since then, she has led several research projects including the first productive use of a combined nano-LC/EI-MS system by the chemical industry, and implemented new mass spectrometry based methods for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and liquid crystals. Cornelia received her PhD degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Frankfurt, Germany in 2012, where she worked in the group of Michael Karas.

Research Summary
I am interested in looking at the pathways of catalyzed reactions by a new method called desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). The novel aspect of this technique is that the reagent is sprayed with gas and voltage assistance onto the catalyst which is spotted on a surface. Upon impact of the reagent on the surface, secondary droplets are released from the surface and directed into the MS for mass analysis. The reaction takes place inside the secondary droplets and is quenched by evaporation of the droplets inside the MS inlet capillary. Using this technique, we can access a distribution of the very first milliseconds of the reaction. In our collaboration with the Du Bois group we are focusing on the identification of intermediates, active species and decomposition pathways of the catalysts during C-H functionalization reactions. In these interdisciplinary projects it is very beneficial to approach problems with different perspectives. We combine our knowledge in organic, physical and analytical chemistry, which is not only driving research. What I like most about CMAD is that it also provides an excellent educational platform for the collaboration partners from the different labs.