Erica Schultz
Specialization
Organic chemistry, Synthesis and Reaction Development
Biochemistry, Biocatalysis, Biosynthesis
Research Interests
We develop green organic reactions that are more environmentally friendly and biocompatible reactions, those non-toxic and efficient under conditions that bacterial cultures can grow (aqueous, neutral pH, ambient temperature and pressure). The goal is to modify environmentally persistent pollutant compounds into derivatives more easily degraded by bacteria and other living organisms.
Education
Harvard University, Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California, Berkeley, PhD
Macalester College, BA
Courses Taught
Biochemistry, CHEM/BMB 300L
Biochemistry Lab, CHEM/BMB 300X
Organic Chemistry II, Chem 221L
Organic Chemistry II Lab, Chem 221X
Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 220L
Organic Chemistry I Lab, CHEM 220X
Publications
*Lake Forest College Undergraduate Co-authors
Jones, G.A.*; Beshara, M.*; Levin, J.E.*; Garcevic, A.R.; Rosiles-Dueñas, D. G.*; Saleh, Y.A.*; Schultz E. E. Pd-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Aryl Halides under Air and in Eco-Friendly Solvent. ACS Omega 2025, 10, 52814-52819. (Published as part of ACS Omega special issue "Undergraduate Research as the Stimulus for Scientific Progress in the USA")
Gomez, K.P*; Clay-Barbour, E.*; Schliet,G.Z.*;Stubbs, S.*; AbuBakar, M.*: Shanker, R.B.*; Schultz, E.E."Hydroechlorination of Aryl Chlorides Under Biocompatible Conditions" ACS Omega 2022, 7, 16028-16034
Schultz, E.E.; Braffman, Nathaniel R.; Luescher, Michael U.; Hager, Harry H.; Balskus, Emily P. "Biocatalytic Friedel-Crafts Alkylation Using a Promiscuous Biosynthetic Enzyme" Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 3151-3155. (Highlighted by Nature Catalysis: Völler, J. "Biocatalytic Friedel-Crafts alkylation" Nat. Catal. 2019, 2, 180.)
Nakamura, H.; Schultz, E. E.; Balskus, E. P. “A new strategy for enzymatic aromatic ring alkylation in cylindrocyclophane biosynthesis” Nat. Chem. Biol. 2017,13, 916-921. (Highlighted by Chemical and Engineering News: Halford, B. “Chemists discover biology’s version of the Friedel-Crafts alkylation” Chem. Eng. News 2017, 95, 7.)
Wallace, S.; Schultz, E. E.; Balskus, E. P. “Using Non-enzymatic Chemistry to Influence Microbial Metabolism” Curr. Opin. in Chem. Bio. 2015, 25, 71-79.
Schultz, E. E.; Lindsay, V. N. G.; Sarpong, R. “Expedient Synthesis of Fused Azepine Derivatives using a Sequential Rh(II)-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation / 1-Aza-Cope Rearrangement of Dienyltriazoles” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 9904-9908.
Schultz, E. E.; Sarpong, R. “Application of In Situ Generated Rh-Bound Trimethylene-methane Variants to the Synthesis of 3,4-Fused Pyrroles” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 4696–4699.
Heller, S. T.; Schultz, E. E.; Sarpong, R. “Chemoselective N-Acylation of Indoles and Oxazolidinones with Carbonylazoles” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8304–8308.
Schultz, E. E.; Pujanauski, B. G.; Sarpong, R. “Synthetic Studies toward Lapidilectine-Type Kopsia Alkaloids” Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 648–651.
Hoye, R. C.; Anderson, G. A.; Brown, S. G.; Schultz, E. E. “Total Synthesis of Cathculins A and B” J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 7400–7403.
Presentations
(Undergraduate authors underlined, *presenter)
Schultz, E.E. "Biocompatible redesign of organic reactions: hydrodehalogenation and discoveries in aqueous methods" Invited talk presented at the Organic Chemistry Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions session, American Chemical Society Midwest Regional Meeting, Omaha, NE. October 14th, 2024. Abstract 233. (Invited)
Schultz, E. E. "Biocompatible hydrodehalogenation and aqueous methods found along the way" Invited talk for the Successful Products and Models of Undergraduate-Based Research: Good Science, Better Scientists session, American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA. March 19th, 2024. Abstract 3994471. (Invited)
Beshara, M.* ('26);Jones, G.A.* ('26); Schultz, E.E. "Optimization and scope of aqueous hydroxylation of aryl halides under air" American Chemical Society Midwest Regional Meeting, Omaha, NE October 14th, 2024. Abstract 4159465
Garcevic, A. R.* (*24); Rosiles-Dueñas, D.A.* ('24); Schultz, E.E. "Green hydroxylation of aryl halides in aqueous solvent under air" American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA. March 18th, 2024. Abstract ORGN 3995694
Schultz, E. E.*, Gomes, K.P. ('22); Garry, A.K. ('26); Rosiles-Dueñas,D.A. ('24); Clay-Barbour, E. ('23); Schiet, G.Z. ('22) Biocompatible Hydrodehalogenation and Nitroreduction" 48th National Organic Chemistry Symposium, South Bend, IN. June 10th, 2023.
Saleh, Y.A.*('24); Clay-Barbour, E. ('23); Levin, J.E. ('20); Schultz, E.E. "Aqueous hydroxylation of halobenzene derivatives" American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL. August 21st, 2022. Abstract ORGN 375504.
Kapoor, H.* ('25); Tram, A.* ('25); Ahmed, F.M. ('24); Schultz, E.E. "Progress toward biocompatible aryl nitro reduction" American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL. August 21st, 2022. Abstract CHED 375504.
Gomez, K.P.*('22); Clay-Barbour ('23); Schiet, G.Z. ('22); Schultz, E.E.* "Hydrodechlorination of aryl chlorides under bacteria compatible conditions" American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA. March 20th, 2022. Abstract ORGN 3660981.
Schultz, E.E. "Hydrodechlorination of Aryl Chlorides Under Bacteria Compatible Conditions" San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. November 9th, 2021. (Invited)
Schultz, E.E.*; AbuBaker, M. ('21); Shanker, R.B. ('19); Stubbs, S.M. ('22) "Hydrodechlorination of aryl chlorides in biological media at neutral pH, ambient temperature and pressure" American Chemical Society National Meeting, Virtual Talk, April 15th, 2021. Abstract ORGN 3554806.
Schultz, E.E. "Biocompatible Methods Toward Degradation of Environmentally Persistent Pharmaceuticals" Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN. March 11th, 2020. (Invited)