b'Characterization of Red Onion Extracts Applied to Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsJustin C. Johnson, Department of ChemistryFaculty Sponsor: Dr. Linda de la Garza, Department of ChemistryPigments form Allium cepa, red onion, were extracted in acidified ethanol solutions and characterized using spectroscopic methods. The pigments present in the extracts are mostly anthocyanins, which can be used in dye-sensitized solar cells. The extract solution had a broad absorbance band in the visible range, with a maximum absorbance at around 530 nm. Due to easy the availability of the red onion, and the extract characteristics, the solutions will be used in TiO2-based solar cells to harvest visible light.Evaluation of Non-Natural Biocatalysis in Wild-Type Heme Containing Enzymes Using a Cyclopropanation ReactionSarah Youngblood, Department of BiologyFaculty Sponsors: Dr. Gopeekrishnan Sreenilayam, Department of Chemistry Dr. Yakov Woldman, Department of ChemistryEnzymes and proteins are increasingly used in organic transformations due toexcellent chemo-, regio- and stereo- selectivity, environmental sustainability, milder reaction conditions, improved productivity, simplified work-streams and greater economical saving potential. Use of engineered and artificial biocatalysis is an effective way to tap chemical transformations that lie beyond the realm of natural enzymes. In order to expand the scope of enzyme/protein catalyzed organic transformations, we have investigated a number of wild-type heme containing enzymes/proteins on their metal carbene mediated transfer activity during non-native alkene cyclopropanation reactions with diazo compounds (commercially available styrene and ethyldiazoacetate). The catalytic activity of these wild type hemoproteins compared to the hemin cofactor and percentage conversions were determined by chiral gas chromatography. Future work is to evaluate the stereoselectivity, expand the substrate and reaction scope, direct evolution of the most promising biocatalyst and the subsequent application of this strategy towards the synthesis of pharmaceutically important intermediates.26'