Institute for Functional Nanomaterials

Inorganic Chemist

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Biography

Raptis obtained his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University. He joined the faculty of the Chemistry Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus in 1998 after a postdoctoral appointment at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, and an Assistant Professorship at the University of Crete in Greece. His research in Puerto Rico, funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and NASA, is focused on the synthesis of novel metal complexes with unusual topologies, electron transfer and magnetic properties. The synthesis and study of a new class of iron-based MRI contrast agents has been a major theme of his recent work. These iron complexes can be appropriately modified as to target specific organs or tissues: targeting ovarian cancer cells is one of the group's current goals. Other work involves the preparation of molecular precursors for the controlled deposition of catalyst nanoparticles on solid supports. The study of porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the selective sorption of gases is a new direction currently pursued in Dr. Raptis' laboratory. The intellectual property of his work has been protected by two United States patents (two more applications are pending in the United States Patent and Trademark Office). Raptis and his group also operate the single crystal X-ray crystallographic facility of the Chemistry Department, which carries out structural studies of variety of small molecules prepared in their laboratory as well as in collaborating laboratories in Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

Teams

Cluster II: Functional Nanostructures at the Interface

Phone

+1-787-764-0000 ext. 2598

Fax

+1-787-756-8242

E-mail

raphael adam uprr pr

Education

• B.Sc. in Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, Texas A&M University

Appointments

2004–present	Professor, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
1999–2004	Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
1998–1999	Assistant Professor, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
1997–1998	Visiting Professor, Univerity of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States
1993–1997	Assistant Professor, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Publications

1. R. G. Raptis, P. Safar, and G. Yang, "Cadmium(II) complexes of 4-(4-pyridyl)pyrazole: A case of two conformational supramolecular isomers polythreaded in the same crystal and a rare example of 5-connected nov net", Crystal Growth & Design, 8, 981 (2008)
2. R. Herchel, H. N. Miras, S. Pérez, R. G. Raptis, C. Rinaldi, and H. Zhao, "Synthesis and characterization of linear trinuclear Pd, Co and Pd/Co pyrazolate complexes", European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 30, 4745 (2008)
3. P. Baran, R. Boca, I. Chakraborty, J. Giapintzakis, R. Herchel, Q. Huang, J. E. McGrady, R. G. Raptis, Y. Sanakis, and A. Simopoulos, "Synthesis, Characterization and Study of Octanuclear Iron-Oxo Clusters Containing a Redox-Active Fe4O4-Cubane Core", Inorganic Chemistry, 47, 645 (2008)
4. I. Chakraborty, G. Mezei, R. G. Raptis, M. Rivera-Carillo, and R. D. Webster, "Tuning of the [Cu3(μ-O)]4+/5+ Redox Couple; Spectroscopic Evidence of Charge Delocalization in the Mixed-Valent [Cu3(μ-O)]5+ Species", Inorganic Chemistry, 47, 7644 (2008)
5. P. Baran, R. Boca, R. Herchel, M. Klein, D. Piñero, R. G. Raptis, F. Renz, and Y. Sanakis, "Pyrazolate-Supported Fe3(μ3-O)-Core; Structural, Spectroscopic, Electrochemical and Magnetic Study", Inorganic Chemistry, 46, 10981 (2007)
6. G. Mezei, R. G. Raptis, and M. Rivera, "Trigonal prismatic CuII6-pyrazolato cages: Structural and electrochemical study, evidence of charge-delocalisation", Dalton Transactions, 37 (2007)
7. G. Mezei, R. G. Raptis, and J. Telser, "Trinuclear, Antiferromagnetically Coupled CuII Complexes with an EPR Spectrum of Mononuclear CuII: Effect of Alcoholic Solvents", Inorganic Chemistry, 45, 8841-8843 (2006)
8. J. E. McGrady, G. Mezei, and R. G. Raptis, "First Structural Characterization of a Delocalized, Mixed-Valent, Triangular Cu37+ Species: Chemical and Electrochemical Oxidation of a CuII3(μ3-O) Pyrazolate and Electronic Structure of the Oxidation Product", Inorganic Chemistry, 44, 7271-7273 (2005)
9. R. G. Raptis and G. Yang, "A robust, porous, cationic silver(I) 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolate framework with a new uninodal 49.66 net", Chemical Communications, 2058-2059 (2004)
10. P. Baran, G. Mezei, and R. G. Raptis, "Anion Encapsulation by Neutral Supramolecular Assemblies of Cyclic CuII-Complexes; a Series of Five Polymerization Isomers, [cis-CuII(μ-OH)(μ-pz)]n, n = 6, 8, 9, 12, 14", Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. 43, 574-577 (2004)
11. G. Mezei and R. G. Raptis, "Pyrazole-4-sulphonate networks of alkali and alkaline earth metals. Effects of cation size, charge, H-bonding and aromatic interactions on the three-dimencional supramolecular architecture", New Journal of Chemistry, 9,1399-1407 (2003)
12. R. G. Raptis and G. Yang, "Supramolecular assembly of trimeric gold(I) pyrazolates through aurophilic attractions", Inorganic Chemistry, 42, 261-263 (2003)
13. R. Boca, L. Dhlan, G. Mezei, T. Ortiz, R. G. Raptis, and J. Telser, "Trinuclear Ferromagnetically Coupled CuII-Pyrazolato Complexes as Models of Particulate Methane Monooxygenase (pMMO)", Inorganic Chemistry, 42, 5801-5803 (2003)
14. R. G. Raptis and G. Yang, "Oxidation of gold(I)-pyrazolates by aqua regia. X-ray crystal structures of the first examples of trinuclear AuIII3 and AuIAuIII2 pyrazolato complexes", Dalton Transactions, 3936-3938 (2002)
15. P. Baran, C. M. Marrero, S. Pérez, and R. G. Raptis, "Stepwise ring-closure synthesis and structural characterization of a homoleptic palladium(II)-pyrazolato cyclic trimer", Chemical Communications, 1012-1013 (2002)
16. P. A. Angaridis, P. Baran, R. Boca, F. Cervantes, W. Haase, G. Mezei, R. G. Raptis, and R. Werner, "Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Trinuclear CuII-Pyrazolato Complexes Containing μ3-OH, μ3-O and μ3-Cl Ligands. Magnetic Susceptibility Study of [PPN]2[(μ3-O)Cu3(μ-pz)3Cl3]", Inorganic Chemistry, 41, 2219-2228 (2002)
17. I. P. Goergakaki, D. C. Hockless, and R. G. Raptis, "First Example of a Ferric/Oxygen-Cubane; an Octanuclear Complex of T-Symmetry, Stable Over Five Oxidation States", Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed., 38, 1632-1634 (1999)

Grants

1. R. G. Raptis. Synthesis and Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Targeted, Iron-Based Contrast Agents to Enhance Ovarian Cancer Detection and Treatment Scheduling, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 3 years, October 2008, Multiple PIs, Approved, $360,000.
2. A. J. Hernández, Y. Ishikawa, B. Luna, M. Meador, G. Morell, and R. G. Raptis. A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Approach for the Development of Selective Nanoporous Gas Sorbents for the Effective Restoration of Breathing Air in Crewed Space Craft, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EPSCoR, 3 years, August 2008, Multiple PIs, Pending, $1,500,000.
3. R. G. Raptis. A Combined Experimetal and Theoretical Study of Redox-Active Fe4O4-Cubanes, National Science Foundation, International Collaboration in Chemistry, 3 years, August 2008, Single PI, Approved, $390,000.
4. N. Cardona, A. J. Hernández, M. M. Martínez, A. M. Padovani, O. J. Perales, R. G. Raptis, C. Rinaldi, and J. Santos. Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical and Energy Driven Systems and Applications (NCBEDSA), National Science Foundation, CREST, 5 years, April 2008, Multiple PIs, Approved, $5,000,000.
5. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, G. Morell, and R. G. Raptis. Fundamental Science of Nanostructured Electrocatalysts/Diamond Support for Fuel Cell Applications, Other, DOE Hydrogen Initiative, 3 years, April 2008, Multiple PIs, Pending, $1,800,000.
6. C. R. Cabrera, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, and R. G. Raptis. Space Exploration Enabling Power Systems: Partnership to Develop the Fundamental Science at UPR and Perform the Corresponding Proof-of-Concept at NASA GRC, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EPSCoR, 3 years, October 2007, Multiple PIs, Approved, $1,350,000.
7. R. G. Raptis. Redox-Controlled Sorbents, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, EPSCoR-Space Grant-NNG05GG78H, 1 year, May 2007, Single PI, Approved, $30,000.
8. J. Klostergaard and R. G. Raptis. Synthesis and Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Targeted, Iron-Based Contrast Agents to Enhance Ovarian Cancer Detection and Treatment Scheduling, National Institutes of Health, U54, 3 years, November 2005, Multiple PIs, Approved, $300,000.
9. R. G. Raptis. Development of Octanuclear Iron Clusters as MRI Contrast Agents, National Institutes of Health, SCoRE-S06GM008102, 4 years, July 2004, Single PI, Approved, $487,772.
10. F. M. Aliev, C. R. Cabrera, L. F. Fonseca, Y. Ishikawa, R. S. Katiyar, G. Morell, R. G. Raptis, and B. R. Weiner. Center for Nanoscale Materials, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, 6 years, January 2003, Multiple PIs, Approved, $6,000,000.

Presentations

1. R. G. Raptis (October 2008) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents".
2. R. G. Raptis (March 2008) "Redox-Active Fe4O4 Cubanes" in Zing Conference on Coordination Chemistry.
3. R. G. Raptis (November 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Chemistry.
4. R. G. Raptis (November 2007) "A Redox-Active Fe4O4-cubane as a Possible Protein Active Center" in Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society.
5. R. G. Raptis (October 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in Recent Advances in Chemistry: 2nd International Workshop, University of Colima.
6. R. G. Raptis (April 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in Juniata College, Department of Chemistry.
7. R. G. Raptis (April 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in Drexel University, Department of Chemistry.
8. R. G. Raptis (April 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in Syracuse University, Department of Chemistry.
9. R. G. Raptis (February 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in University of Puerto Rico, Department of Chemical Engineering.
10. R. G. Raptis (February 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
11. R. G. Raptis (February 2007) "Polynuclear Iron-Oxo-Pyrazolate Clusters; Possible Metalloprotein Models and MRI Contrast Agents" in Louisiana State University, Department of Chemistry..