Mary Buthelezi
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Office: Science Center 330
Phone: 508-286-3957
Email: buthelezi_mary@wheatonma.edu
Degrees
Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville
B.A., Williams College
Research Interests
Project 1: Host/Guest Chemistry of Molecules
The purpose of this project is to investigate the binding of newly synthesized cyclophanes (host) to specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs (guest). The results of our investigation could (1) be used to extract carcinogenic PAHs from polluted environments such as air, surface water, and ground water; (2) be used as model structures for host-guest biological systems; and (3) contribute to the interaction chemistry of some drugs and receptors.
Project 2: Fluorescence Quenching Studies of Chlorophyll
The purpose of this investigation is to study the photosynthesis process in green plants (example: spinach). We are interested in this system because of its possible use in photovoltaic cells and as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy.
Teaching Interests
Quantum Chemistry
Chemical Thermodynamics
Analytical Chemistry
Other Interests
Tennis, walking, and scrabble
Selected Publications, Creative Work or Performances
Chemistry: Matter and Change, Thandi Buthelezi , Laurel Dingrando, Nicholas Hainen, Cheryl Wistrom, Dinah Zike; Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, ©2008
Molecular association of benzene with a new cyclophane receptor.≈ Davies, Christopher; Ren, Li; Gustafson, Ryan; Buthelezi, Thandi; Bartsch, Richard A.; Surowiec, Malgorzata. Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry 61, 2008, 347.
Characterization of modified carbon nanotubes by TG-MS and pyrolysis-GC/MS. Lineberry, Quentin; Buthelezi, Thandi; Pan, Wei-Ping. Chemistry Department, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA. Journal of ASTM International, 2006, 3(9).
Spectroscopic Properties of Cyclophane/Anthracene and Cyclophane/9-Fluorenone Complexes in Dichloromethane, Mark O≠Brien, Rachelle Smalley, Augustine Amonge, Scott Raber, Andrew Starosota, Thandi Buthelezi*, Richard A. Bartsch and Malgorzata Wegiel, Microchemical Journal, 80, 2005, 55.
Complexation Studies of Chlorophyll a with Trinitro Substituted Fluorene Derivates, R. Smalley, M. O≠Brien, S. Raber, A. Amonge, J. Pedigo and T. Buthelezi*, J.Photobiol. and Photochem. Chem, 17,2005, 113.
A Study of the Effect of Surfactants on the Properties of Polystyrene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, Wei Xie, J. M. Hwu, G. J. Jiang, T. M. Buthelezi, W.-P. Pan, Polymer Engineering & Science, 43, 2003, 214.