Education

B.A. Luther College

Ph.D., University of Minnesota

 

Research

My current research focuses on mechanistic organic chemistry. 

Some projects have involved study of the photochemical reactions of carbonyl compounds; e.g., photochemical acylation of rings and the photo-Cannizzaro reaction.

Also, some research has examined substituent effects on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of substituted pyridines.

Publications

1995 - Present

(Undergraduate student coauthor are in bold.)

Yoder, C. H.; Leber, P. A.; Thomsen, M. W. The Bridge to Organic Chemistry: Concepts and Nomenclature; John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey, 2010.

Yoder, C.; Retterer, O.; Thomsen, M.; Hess, K. Interactive Chemistry: Models and Applications (an interactive, CD-ROM based text for introductory chemistry) [CD-ROM]; Academy Artworks: York, PA, 1999.

Van Arman, S. A.; Thomsen, M. W.  HPLC for Undergraduate Introductory Laboratories. J. Chem. Educ. 1997, 74, 49.

Yoder, C. H.; Smith, W. D.; Katolik,V. L.; Hess, K. R.; Thomsen, M. W.; Yoder, C.S.; Bullock, E. R.  The Synthesis and Analysis of Copper(II) Carboxylates. J. Chem. Educ. 1995, 72, 267.

Yoder, C. H.; Hess, K. R.; Thomsen, M. W.; Smith, W. D.  An Introductory Infrared Spectroscopy Experiment. J. Chem. Educ. 1995, 72, 655.

 

Courses Taught

CHM 111 - General Chemistry I: Picturing the Atomic World, Lecture & Lab

CHM 112 - General Chemistry II: Reactions in the Atomic World, Lecture & Lab

CHM 211 - Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Function of Carbon-Containing Compounds & Lab

CHM 212 - Organic Chemistry II: Reactivity and Synthesis of Organic Molecules & Lab

CHM 411 - Advanced Organic Chemistry