Profile
Joseph S. Thrasher
Chemistry
Professor
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, University of Alabama
ACS Division of Fluorine Chemistry, Alternate Councilor
ACS Fellow
Regional Editor of the Americas and India, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry
Advanced Materials Research Lab (Amrl) 001 [Lab]
Advanced Materials Research Lab (Amrl) 002 [Lab]
Advanced Materials Research Lab (Amrl) 215 [Office]
Hunter Hall 359 [Office]
Educational Background
B.S., Chemistry, Virginia Tech, 1978
Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Virginia tech, 1981
Profile/About Me
Joseph S. Thrasher is currently Professor of Chemistry at Clemson University. After receiving his B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1978, he remained at Virginia Tech for his Ph.D. studies in Inorganic Chemistry under the direction of Alan F. Clifford. Upon completion of his Ph.D. in 1981, he took a postdoctoral position with Konrad Seppelt at the Freie Universität Berlin. During the 1983-84 academic year, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Clemson University where he both taught and carried out research with Darryl D. DesMarteau. He then started his independent career at The University of Alabama where he rose through the academic ranks (1984-2011), including serving as Director of Graduate Studies (1995-2002) and Department Chair (2002-2007). In the summer of 2011, Dr. Thrasher returned to Clemson University to both overlap with and then follow Prof. DesMarteau in the area of fluorine chemistry. His current research interests are in the areas of halogen bonding and fluoropolymer chemistry. He has been very active in the American Chemical Society (ACS), especially in the Division of Fluorine Chemistry, where he has served in a number of offices, including Chair in 1994 as well as serving on the Executive Committee numerous times. He has also organized a number of symposia and conferences, including having been co-chair of two ACS Winter Fluorine Conferences (1993 and 1995) and was the lead-organizing chair of the 19th International Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry (ISFC) held in Jackson Hole, WY in 2009. He was the recipient of the Division's Distinguished Service Award in 2013. In 2016, he became Regional Editor for the Americas and India of the Journal of Fluorine Chemistry and was selected as an ACS Fellow. He has served as Alternate Councilor of Division since 2013.
Research Interests
Preparation, characterization, and utility of novel sulfur-fluorine compounds; industrial fluorine chemistry including fluoropolymer chemistry and electrochemistry; fluorine-containing molten salts/ionic liquids; fluorous media for improved separations and catalysis; fuel cell technology; development of new analytical methodologies in fluorine chemistry; computational chemistry. Current projects focus on halogen bonding, condensation polymers, and computational chemistry.
Courses Taught
CH 1010 Honors, CH 1010 Majors, CH 1010 - General Chemistry I
CH 2050 - Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
CH 8080 - Chemistry of the Main-Group Elements
Selected Publications
Google: Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iFEe1LMAAAAJ&hl=en
Publications (last ten years)
1. Petrov, V. A.; Thrasher, J. S. “From alternate routes to fluorspar (CaF2) or anhydrous HF (aHF) to conversion of fluorspar into a nucleophilic fluorinating agent,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2024, 275, 110224.
2. Hager, C. J.; McMillen, C. D.; Sachdeva, R.; Martin, A. W.; Thrasher, J. S. “New Fluorine-Containing Diamine Monomers for Potentially Improved Polyimides,” Molecules 2023, 23, 6855.
3. Wacha, M.; Helm, D. L.; Smart, M. M.; McMillen, C. D.; Casabianca, L. B.; Sachdeva, R.; Urick, C. R.; Wilson, L. P.; Thrasher, J. S. “Cooperative intermolecular S—Br···O and O···F and F···F associations in the crystal packing of ?,?-di(sulfonyl bromide) perfluoroalkanes, BrSO2(CF2)nSO2Br, where n = 4, 6, and 8,” Chem. – Asian J. 2023, 18, e202300012 (pp 1-9).
4. Dudzi?ski, P.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. “Reactions of Difluoro-pentafluorosulfanyl-iodomethane (SF5CF2I) With Electronically Different Types of Alkene,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2022, 264, 110051.
5. Belina, S. P.; Qing, S.-Y.; Dudzi?ski, P.; Mück-Lichtenfeld, C.; Haufe, G.; Thrasher, J. S. “Preparation and Characterization of Pentafluoro-?6-sulfanyl Difluoromethane, SF5CF2H, and Pentafluoro-?6-sulfanyl 1,1,2,2-Tetrafluoroethane, SF5CF2CF2H,” Helv. Chim. Acta 2021, 104, e2100138.
6. Gerken, M.; Thrasher, J. S. “Editorial: Dr. Robert (Bob) G. Syvret, Electronic Fluorocarbons, LLC and F2ChemTech, LLC – Recipient of the 2020 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2021, 249, 109836.
7. Dudzi?ski, P.; Husstedt, W. S.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. “Synthesis and [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements of 5-(Pentafluoro-?6-sulfanyl)-pent-3-en-2-ol, Its Homologues, and Trifluoromethyl Analogues,” Org. Biomol. Chem. 2021, 19, 5607-5623.
8. Lu, N.; Elakkat, V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Wang, X.-P.; Tessmea, E.; Chan, K. L.; Wei, R.-J.; Trabelsi, T.; Francisco, J. S. “Neutron diffraction study of significant sp3 and sp2 C-H bond shortening in a fluorinated pyridinium saccharinate,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 5550-5557.
9. Umemoto, T.; O’Hagan, D.; Thrasher, J. S. “Editorial: Professor Norio Shibata, Nagoya Institute of Technology – Recipient of the 2019 American Chemical Society Award for Creative Work in Fluorine Chemistry,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2020, 234, 109515.
10. Z?emva, B.; Schrobilgen, G. J.; Thrasher, J. S. “Obituary – Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Mews,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2020, 233, 109494.
11. Prakash, G. K. S.; Thrasher, J. S. “Preface: This virtual special issue (VSI) is dedicated to the memory of Professor George A. Olah,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2019, 226, 109355.
12. Lu, N.; Zheng, J.-H.; Lin, L.-C.; Liu, L.-K.; Chiang, H.-F.; Li, T.-Y.; Wen, Y.-S.; Yang, C.-K.; Thrasher, J. S. “Studies of two different types of intramolecular C-H···F-C interactions from polyfluorinated diiodometal(II) diamine complexes,” J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2019, 66(1), 31-40.
13. Liu, X.-L.; McMillen, C. D.; Thrasher, J. S. “Cooperative intermolecular S—Cl···O and F···F associations in the crystal packing of ?,? di(sulfonyl chloride) perfluoroalkanes, ClSO2(CF2)nSO2Cl, where n = 4, 6,” New J. Chem. 2018, 42, 10484-10488.
14. Qing, S.-Y.; DeWeerd, N. J.; Matsnev, A.V.; Strauss, S. H.; Thrasher, J. S.; Boltalina, O. V. “Synthesis and characterization of pentafluorosulfanyl-functionalized fullerenes,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2018, 211, 52-59.
15. Dreier, A.-L.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. “Syn-selective silicon Mukaiyama-type aldol reactions of (pentafluoro-?6-sulfanyl)acetic acid esters with aldehydes,” Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 373-380.
16. Liu, L.-K.; Lu, Y.-J.; Lu, N.; Li, T.-Y.; Huang, J.-Y.; Lin, C.-H.; Wen, Y.-S.; McMillen, C. D.; Thrasher, J. S. “The (2,2?-bipyridine)PtI2 skeleton with 5,5?-modification of fluorous side chains: Orthogonal skeleton,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2018, 206, 29-35.
17. Welch, J. T.; Thrasher, J. S. “Editorial Special issue in honor of Antonio Togni,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2017, 203, 1-2.
18. Lu, N.; Zheng, J.-H.; Lu, Y.-J.; Chiang, H.-F.; Chu, C.-W.; Thrasher, J. S.; Wen, Y.-S.; Liu, L.-K. “Side-chain conformations in the isomorphous polyfluorinated {4,4’-bis[(2,2-difluoroethoxy)methyl]-2,2’-bipyridine-?2N,N’}dichloropalladium and -platinum complexes,” Acta Crystallogr., Sect. C: Struct. Chem. 2017, 73, 930-936.
19. Lu, N., Wei, R.-J., Chiang, H.-F., Thrasher, J. S., Wen, Y.-S.; Liu, L.-K. “Weak hydrogen and halogen bonding in 4-[(2,2-difluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide and 4-[(3-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-methyl]pyridinium iodide,” Acta Crystallogr., Sect. C: Struct. Chem. 2017, 73, 682-687.
20. Boltalina, O. V.; Petrov, V. A.; Thrasher, J. S. “Editorial,” J. Fluorine Chem. 2017, 196, 1-2.
21. Nielsen, J. B.; Zylka, P.; Kronberg, M.; Zeng, X.-Q.; Robinson, K. D.; Bott, S. G.; Zhang, H.-M.; Atwood, J. L; Oberhammer, H.; Willner, H.; Thrasher, J. S. "Solid- and Gas-Phase Structures and Spectroscopic and Chemical Properties of Tris(pentafluoro-?6-sulfanyl)amine, N(SF5)3, and Bis(pentafluoro-?6-sufanyl)aminyl Radical, ?N(SF5)2," J. Mol. Struct. 2017, 1132, 11-19.
22. Dreier, A.-L.; Beutel, B.; Mück-Lichtenfeld, C.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. "Synthesis of ?-(Pentafluorosulfanyl)- and ?-(Trifluoromethyl)-substituted Carboxylic Acid Derivatives by Ireland-Claisen Rearrangement," J. Org. Chem. 2017, 82, 1638-1648.
23. Hercules, D. A.; Parrish, C. A.; Sayler, T. S.; Tice, K. T.; Williams, S. M.; Lowery, L. E.; Brady, M. E.; Coward, R. B.; Murphy, J. A.; Hey, T. A.; Scavuzzo, A. R.; Rummler, L. M.; Burns, E. G.; Matsnev, A. V.; Fernandez, R. E.; McMillen, C. D.; Thrasher, J. S. "Preparation of Tetrafluoroethylene from the Pyrolysis of Pentafluoropropionate Salts," J. Fluorine Chem. 2017, 196, 107-116.
24. Hercules, D. A.; Parrish, C. A.; Thrasher, J. S. "Research and Non-major Commercial Co- and Terpolymers of Tetrafluoroethylene." In Fluorinated Polymers: Volume 2: Applications (Polymer Chemistry Series); Ameduri, B.; Sawada, H., Eds.; The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2017; Chapter 9; pp 206-264.
25. Peters, E. E.; Ross, T. J.; Ashley, S. F.; Chakraborty, A.; Crider, B. P.; Hennek, M. D.; Liu, S. H.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; Prados-Estévez, F. M.; Ramirez, A. P. D.; Thrasher, J. S.; Yates, S. W. "0+ states in 130,132Xe: A search for E(5) behavior" Phys. Rev. C 2016, 94, 024313/1-024131/7.
26. Dudzi?ski, P.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. "Synthesis of SF5CF2-Containing Enones and Instability of This Group in Specific Chemical Environments and Reaction Conditions," J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81, 4454-4463.
27. Friese, F. W.; Dreier, A.-L.; Matsnev, A. V.; Daniliuc, C. G.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. "Anti-selective Aldol Reactions of SF5-Acetic Acid Esters with Aldehydes Mediated by Dicyclohexylchloroborane," Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 1012-1015.
28. Peters, E. E.; Ross, T. J.; Crider, B. P.; Ashley, S. F.; Chakraborty, A.; Hennek, M. D.; Kumar, A.; Liu, S. H.; McEllistrem, M. T.; Prados-Estévez, F. M.; Thrasher, J. S.; Yates, S. W. "Inelastic neutron scattering studies of 132,134Xe: Elucidating structure in a transitional region and possible interferences for 0??? searches," EPJ Web of Conferences 2015, 93, 1-4.
29. Chen, Z.; Liu, C.; Thrasher, J. S. “ACREC Solutions: New Research Refutes Prior Study on Feather Meal,” Render: The International Magazine of the Rendering Industry 2015, August, 30-33.
30. Dudzi?ski, P.; Matsnev, A. V.; Thrasher, J. S.; Haufe, G. “Ambiphilic Properties of SF5CF2CF2Br Derived Perfluorinated Radical in Addition Reactions Across Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds,” Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 1078-1081.
Selected Talks
“Quo Vadis Fluorine Chemistry?” Fluor als Schlüsselelement, GRK 1582/2, 69. Kollegseminar SS18, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany, August 24, 2018.
Memberships
• Member of the American Chemical Society – Divisions of Inorganic, Polymer, and Fluorine Chemistry (Membership Committee Chair 1987-88, Executive Committee 1989-1991, Chair-Elect 1993, Chair 1994, Past Chair 1995, Executive Committee 2007-2012, Alternate Councilor 2013-present).
• Member of the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry Advisory Council (DCAC), 2001-present.
• Member of the Fluorine Chemistry International Steering Committee, 1995-present.
Honors and Awards
• Member of External Advisory Board for the Center for Fluorinated Functional Materials at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, June 2018-May 2023.
• American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellow, Class of 2016.
• American Chemical Society Division of Fluorine Chemistry Distinguished Service Award, 2013.
• Honorary International Chair Professor, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, August 1, 2012 to July 31, 2015.
• 2009 Conference Planning Team of the Year Award from the Jackson Lake Lodge of Grand Teton Lodge Company, site of the 19th International Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry including ISoFT’09, August 23-28, 2009.
• Governing Board Member of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR), 2005-2006.
Outreach
• 28th Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR): Collaboration, Sustainable Feedstocks and the Chemical Enterprise of the Future, New Orleans, LA, April 15-17, 2007.
• Participated in 5th Annual Exploring Excellence in Teaching Week with a presentation entitled “Class Attendance and Academic Performance,” Tuscaloosa, AL, February 26-March 1, 2007.
• 27th Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR): Shaping the Future of Chemical Sciences & Engineering, Tucson, Arizona, April 30-May 3, 2006.
• Hosted team of science educators from Tohoku University in Sendai, JAPAN to discuss their interdisciplinary freshman laboratory science course for science majors as well as studio physics, studio biology, math laboratory, and improved use of technology in our freshman chemistry lectures, March 1, 2006 – this scientific team also visited MIT and Stanford.
• 26th Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR), Pittsburgh, PA, April 9-12, 2005.
• Hosted 2005 Southeast Chemistry Chairs Meeting, March 24-26, 2005.
• University of Wisconsin System's Women and Science 7th Curriculum Reform Institute in Oshkosh, WI, June 13-18, 2003.
• 24th Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR), Austin, TX, April 5-8, 2003.
• 29th Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE 2002), New Orleans, LA, March 26-30, 2002.
• 23rd Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR): Collaboration and Innovation in a Time of Change, Cincinnati, OH, March 23-26, 2002.
• National Research Council (NRC) Workshop: “Minorities in the Chemical Workforce: Diversity Models that Work,” Washington, DC, March 15-16,2002.
• 27th Annual Conference of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE 2000), Miami, FL, April 2000.
• 19th Annual Meeting of the Council for Chemical Research (CCR), St. Louis, MO, September 1997.
Education conference entitled “Revitalizing Undergraduate Mathematics and Science Education: A National Dialogue,” East Lansing, MI, May 1997.
• Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, 3rd Annual Meeting of the Compact for Faculty Diversity, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars Program, Boston, MA, November 1996.
