Thomas H. Kinstle

Thomas H. Kinstle, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Chemistry Department
409 Physical Sciences Laboratory Building
419.372.8678
tkinstl@bgsu.edu

Biographical Facts:

Joined the faculty in 1971
Ph.D., University of Illinois (1963)
A.B., Bowling Green State University (1958) 
Retired in 2011

Research Interests:

Our program in natural products/bio-organic chemistry is concerned with the synthesis and biological evaluation analogs of plant derived phenolic compounds known to be inhibitors of tumor formation.  Ellagic acid, present in various fruits and vegetables, particularly strawberries, is a planar biaryl polyphenol.  Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a flavanoid polyphenol found in high concentration in brewed green tea.  Analogs, chosen on the basis of computerized molecular modeling studies, are being synthesized.

A long- term program in the chemistry of strained bicyclic ring compounds is proceeding in the areas of synthesis, mechanism and spectroscopy. We are particularly interested in partially fluorinated bicyclo[2.1.0] pentanes.  Flash vacuum pyrolysis techniques have allowed us to synthesize several novel non-natural molecules.