John Regan

My many years of experience in the private sector - pharmaceutical drug discovery research – taught me the value of combining theoretical with practical knowledge. For example, we can memorize that aluminum has thirteen electrons, but this knowledge has limited practical applications. On the other hand, knowing why we recycle aluminum despite the fact it’s one of the most abundant elements on the earth’s surface is more practical information. My teaching and research style gravitate towards a more nuanced understanding of the physical sciences – theoretical merged with practical. Therefore, a balanced comprehension of our world, especially the chemical components, will greatly serve the scientist-citizen of the 21st Century.

Courses Taught

CHEM 319 - Organic Chemistry I

CHEM 320 - Organic Chemistry II

CHEM 323 & CHEM 324 - Organic Chemistry Labs

CHEM 421 - Advanced Topics in Chemistry - Medicinal Chemistry

SCI 203 & 204 - Topics in Science

  • Research

    My student-directed research fits under the marquee of “Environmental Chemistry.” I focus on green organic chemistry. Specifically our students examine (i) remediation of contaminated water using naturally occurring organic molecules, (ii) new and more environmentally friendly ways to perform undergraduate organic reactions and (iii) innovative technology for recycling chemical reagents that historically have been discarded after use.

  • Publications and Scholarly Activities

    Student-Directed Presentations and Posters

    • Sumaiya Sabrina: “Silica Gel-Bound DNA is an Absorbant of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons” 67th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queens College, Queens, NY May 4, 2019.
    • Hannah Mabey: “Removal of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Pollutants from Water with a New Versatile Chemically Modified Silica Gel-Based Absorbent” 67th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queens College, Queens, NY May 4, 2019.
    • Georgia Stinchfield: Reducing Hexavalent Chromium to Trivalent Chromium with a Zero Chemical Footprint: Borohydride Exchange Resin with a Polymer Supported Buffer in Water” 67th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queens College, Queens, NY May 4, 2019.
    • Nicholas Dushaj: Using Borohydride Exchange Resin to Reduce Hexavalent Chromium to Trivalent Chromium” 67th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queens College, Queens, NY May 4, 2019.
    • Patsy Griffin: “Remarkably Rapid Reduction of Toxic Chromium(VI) Levels” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • Christopher Kim: Exp[loration of a Possible Chromium (VI) Capturing Calix[4]arene Hydroxamic Acid” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • Megan Lepore: Removal of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons From Water” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • Sumaiya Sabrina: “Silica Gel-Bound DNA is an Absorbant of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • Twinkle Saini: “The Reduction of Chromium (VI) Using Ascorbic Acid Absorbed onto Granulated Activated Carbon: A Kinetic Study” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • Mariel Taveras: “Modifying Amberlite® Ion Exchange Resin as a Strategy to Remove Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons from Water” 66th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium, York College, Jamaica, NY May 5, 2018.
    • “Removal of Mn(II) Ions From Water by a Chelation-Absorption Strategy" A. Abid, K. Rooney and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fordham University, Bronx NY (May 2017)
    • “Polyols as Bidentate Capture Reagents for Cr(VI) Ion Removal” M. Cacace and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fordham University, Bronx NY (May 2017)
    • “Correlation of Density Functional Theory with Experimental Results for Reactions Between Bidentate Chelating Agents and Chromate” D. Huntington, J. F. Capitani and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fordham University, Bronx NY (May 2017)
    • “Activated Charcoal-Bound Ascorbic Acid: Reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and Recycling” A. Rosario and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fordham University, Bronx NY (May 2017)
    • “2,2-Biphenol as an Insoluble Reagent for the Removal of Cr(VI) From Water” T. Saini and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Fordham University, Bronx NY (May 2017)
    • “Studies Towards the Complete Removal of Chromium (VI) with Insoluble Ascorbic Acid” M. Cacace and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Lehman College, Bronx NY (May 2016)
    • “Water Purification: Converting Cr(VI) to Cr(III) with Catechol Derivatives” P. Markaj and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Lehman College, Bronx NY (May 2016)
    • “New Polymer-Based Recyclable Catalyst for the benzoin Condensation” S. Ali and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY (May 2015)
    • “Remediation of Water Containing Chromium(VI) with Insoluble Ascorbic Acid Derivatives” P. Markaj and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY (May 2015)
    • “A Greener Approach to Organic Synthesis: Recycling Polystyrene-Containing Chemical Reagents for Different Reactions” G. Trombetta and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, St. John’s University, Queens, NY (May 2014)
    • “A Green Approach to Organic Synthesis: New Applications to Used Polystyrene-Containing Chemical Reagents” M. Dzikowski and J. Regan, Undergraduate Research Symposium, City College of New York, CUNY, NY (April 2013)
    •  “The Physical Requirements Necessary for Optimum Performance of Insoluble Polystyrene-bound Chemical Reagents vs. Dissolved Reagents” C. Graham, C. Hogan and J. Regan, 20th Annual Statewide CSTEP Student Conference, Sagamore Resort, NY (April 2012)

    Publications 

    • "Bidentate and Mondentate Binding of Cr(VI) on the Acid Scavenger Resin, MP-Carbonate, as a Function of pH." Georgia Stinchfield, Joseph F. Capitani and John Regan*. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Vol. 231, Number 7. (2020).
    • "Modified Silica Gels as Recyclable Adsorbents of Aqueous Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons" J. Regan, J. Dolores, M. Lepore, M. Gualano, J. Badson, J. Capitani, J. Fan* Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews, 12, pp. 435-443 (2019). 
    • "Reducing Hexavalent Chromium to Trivalent Chromium with a Zero Chemical Footprint: Borohydride Exchange Resin and a Polymer-Supported Base" J. Regan,* N. Dushaj and G. Stinchfield,  ACS Omega, 4, 11554-11557 (July 2, 2019)
    • “Bidentate Reagents Form Cyclic Organic-Cr(VI) Molecules For Aiding in the Removal of Cr(VI) from Water: Density Functional Theory and Experimental Results” J. Regan, D. Huntington and J.F. Capitani, Structural Chemistry 28(5), pp. 1461-1465 (2017).
    • “Crystal Structure of 2a-(1,1-Diphenylethyl)-4-methyl-4a,5a-diphenyl-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane: The Result of a Non-Acidic Pinacol Rearrangement” R.M. Kirchner, P. W. R. Corfield, M. Annabi, J. Regan, K. Speina, A. DiProperzio, J.A. Ciaccio, J. F. Capitani, Acta Cryst. E71, pp.1278-1282 (2015)
    • “Non-steroidal dissociated glucocorticoid agonists: indoles as A-ring mimetics and function-regulating pharmacophores” R. Betageri, T. Gilmore, D. Kuzmich, T. Kirrane, J. Bentzien, D. Wiedenmayer, Y. Bekkali, J. Regan, A. Berry, B. Latli, A. Kukulka, T. Fadra, R. Nelson, S. Goldrick, L. Zuvela-Jelaska, D. Souza, J. Pelletier, R. Dinallo, M. Panzenbeck, C. Torcellini, H. Lee, E. Pack, C. Harcken, G. Nabozny, D. Thomson.  Med. Chem. Letters, 21, 6842 (2011)
    • “Recent Developments in Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonists” J. Regan, H. Razavi and D. Thomson.  Reports Medicinal Chemistry, 43, 141 (2008)
    • “The Medicinal Chemistry of Agents Targeting the Nuclear Hormone Receptor” J. Regan. Current Topics Medicinal Chemistry, 8, 727 (2008)
    • “New Modifications to the Area of Pyrazole-Naphthyl Urea-Based p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitors That Bind to the Adenine/ATP Site” N. Moss, S. Breitfelder, R. Betageri, P.F. Cirillo, T. Fadra, E. R. Hickey, T. Kirrane, R.R. Kroe, J. Madwed, R. M. Nelson, C. A. Pargellis, K. C. Qian, J. Regan, A. Swinamer and C. Torcellini. Bioorganic Med. Chem. Letters17, 4242 (2007)
    • “Quinol-4-ones as Steroid A-Ring Mimetics in Non-Steroidal Dissociated Glucocorticoid Agonists” J. Regan, T.W. Lee, R.M. Zindell, Y. Bekkali, J. Bentzien, T. Gilmore, A. Hammach, T.M. Kirrane, A.J. Kukulka, D. Kuzmich, R.M. Nelson, J.R. Proudfoot, M. Ralph, J. Pelletier, D. Souza, L. Zuvela-Jelaska, G. Nabozny and D.S. Thomson.  Med. Chem.,49, 7887 (2006).