Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Associate Professor, Chemistry

Office phone: (716) 375-2603
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Administration Building 207

• CHML 101. General Chemistry I Laboratory 
• CHML 102. General Chemistry II Laboratory 
• CHEM 301. Organic Chemistry I 
• CHML 301. Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 
• CHEM 302. Organic Chemistry II 
• CHML 302. Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 
• CHEM 470. Mechanisms in Biological Systems 
• HON 299. Special Topics (Science and Society)

• Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2006
• B.S. and B.A., State University of New York at Buffalo, 2001

• Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University, 2006-2008

Notable Publications

• Mehta, A.P.; Hanes, J.W.; Abdelwahed, S.H.; Hilmey, D.G.; Hänzelmann, P.; Begley, T.P. “Catalysis of a New Ribose Carbon-Insertion Reaction by the Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthetic Enzyme MoaA.”Biochemistry, 2013, 52, 1134–1136.
• Samuel, D.; Norrell, K.; Hilmey, D.G. “Novel ring chemistry of Vitamin B6 with singlet oxygen and activated enes: Isolated products and identified intermediates suggesting an operable [3+2] cycloaddition.” Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2012, 10, 7278-7281.
• Hilmey, D.G. “Iron (III) chloride; First update”. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. 2009.
• Hilmey, D.G. “2-iodopropane; First update”. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. 2009.
• Chatterjee, A.; Hazra, A., Hilmey, D.G. Abdelwahed, S.; Begley, T.P. “A radical dance in thiamin biosynthesis:mechanistic analysis of the bacterial hydroxymethylpyrimidine phosphate synthase.”Angewandte Chemie, 2010, 49, 8653-8656.
• Hanes, J.W.; Burns, K.E.; Hilmey, D.G.; Chatterjee, A.; Begley, T.P. “Mechanistic Studies on Pyridoxal Phosphate Synthase: the reaction Pathway leading to a Chromophoric Intermediate” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 3043-3052.
• Hilmey, D.G.; Davis, B.D.; Gallucci, J.C.; Brodbelt, J.S; Paquette, L.A. “X-Ray Crystallographic and Mass Spectrometric Probing of the Conformational and Ionophoric Properties of Stereoisomeric Hexatetrahydrofuranylhexane Segments” J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 9088-9101.
• Hilmey, D.G.; Paquette, L.A. “1,3-Dichloroacetone as a Cyclopropanone Equivalent. 1-Oxaspiro[3.4]Octan-6-one” Org. Syn. 2007, 84, 156.
• Paquette, Leo A.; Hilmey, David G.; Gallucci, Judith C. “Practical Designed Syntheses of All Stereoisomeric Bis(2,2')- and Tris(2,2',2'')-tetrahydrofurans.” Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 2635.
• Hilmey, David G.; Paquette, Leo A. “Promoter-Dependent Course of the Beckmann Rearrangement of Stereoisomeric Spiro[4.4]nonane-1,6-dione Monoximes.” Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 2067.
• Hilmey, D.G.; Paquette, L.A. “Exo- and Endo-Receptors in One. A Novel Class of Supramolecular Structures Housing Transition-Metal-Binding Bi- and Terpyridine Units alongside Lithium Ion-Selective Trispirotetrahydrofuranyl Components.” J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 3262.
• Hilmey, D.G.; Abe, M.; Nelen, M.I.; Stilts, C.E.; Baker, G.A.; Baker, S.N.; Bright, F.V.; Davies, S.R.; Gollnick, S.O.; Oseroff, A.R.; Gibson, S.L.; Hilf, R.; Detty, M.R. “Water- Soluble, Core-Modified Porphyrins as Novel, Longer-Wavelength Sensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy.II. Effects of Core Heteroatoms and Meso-Substituents on Biological Activity” J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 449.

Grants and Funding

• Leo Keenan Faculty Development Grant: “iPad Enhanced Lecturing in Chemistry: Using Tablets in a Concept and Content-Based Discipline.” 2013.
• NSF Summer Fellow: “Synthesis of dihalogenated precursors for Graphene Nanoribbon Fabrication”, State University of New York at Buffalo. 2012.
• Borer Summer Fellowship, Department of Biology. 2010-2012.
• Faculty Research Grant: “Chemical Consequences of Vitamin B6 Oxidation by Activated Enes and Singlet Oxygen: Isolated products and identified intermediates suggesting an operable [3+2] addition.” 2011.
• Community Based Learning Grant: “Native American Health and Medicine.” 2010.

Teaching with a high level of enthusiasm, clarity, and patience is the foundation of my instruction.   These traits should create a receptive audience and ultimately lead students to fulfill or exceed their potential.  The major goal of my instruction is to provide every student with comprehensive knowledge and an enthusiasm for the subject which they did not expect.

My research interests lie in the synthesis of chemical structures with application to practical issues. Our targets are diverse and include enzyme inhibitors, vitamin oxidants, and nanotechnology precursors. My research projects include:

1. Synthesis of dibrominated polyaromatic compounds to fabricate graphene nanoribbons of defined edge and width;
2. Understanding the mechanism and products of Vitamin B6 oxidation;
3. Synthesis of analogs and inhibitors of the enzyme NicF;
4. Synthesis of lithium metal chelators through polyketide-patterned THF rings.