John Tannaci, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Tannaci's interests lie at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and education.
His research focuses on developing new methods for synthesizing flexible electronic materials, which can be used in applications like solar power and wearable technologies. The fundamental bond-forming reactions under investigation are also useful in constructing new biologically active molecules, pharmaceutical targets, and therapeutic agents.
Dr. Tannaci also serves as the Pre-Health Coordinator at California Lutheran University. He advises students from start to finish on the requirements, activities, strategies, and applications for gaining admission to graduate programs like medical school, dental school, and veterinary school. As part of this role, Dr. Tannaci is actively seeking community partnerships to engage talented CLU students in clinical/research opportunities.
Lastly, Dr. Tannaci is passionate about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. He and his students have participated in numerous outreach activities, especially at Thousand Oaks High School and Santa Rosa Technology Magnet School, and they are committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Stanford University (2002) - B.S. in Chemical Engineering, with distinction
UC Berkeley (2008) - Ph.D. in Chemistry
“Optimization of direct arylation polymerization conditions for the synthesis of P3HT.” Rudenko, A. E.; Wiley, C. A.; Tannaci, J. F.; Thompson, B. C. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2660-2668.
“Semi-random P3HT analogs via direct arylation polymerization.” Rudenko, A. E.; Wiley, C. A.; Stone, S. M.; Tannaci, J. F.; Thompson, B. C. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2012, 50, 3691–3697.
“Assembly of macrocycles by zirconocene-mediated, reversible carbon-carbon bond formation.” Gessner, V. H.; Tannaci, J. F.; Miller, A. D.; Tilley, T. D. Acc. Chem. Res. 2011, 44, 435-446.
“Disulfide passivation of the Ge(100)-2x1 surface.” Kachian, J. S.; Tannaci, J.; Wright, R. J.; Tilley, T. D.; Bent, S. F. Langmuir 2011, 27, 179-186.
“Mesityl alkyne substituents for control of regiochemistry and reversibility in zirconocene couplings: new synthetic strategies for unsymmetrical zirconacyclopentadienes and conjugated polymers.” Miller, A. D.; Tannaci, J. F.; Johnson, S. A.; Lee, H.; McBee, J. L.; Tilley, T. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 4917-4927.
“Stereoselective macrocyclization through zirconocene-mediated coupling of achiral dialkynes.” Tannaci, J. F.; Kratter, I. H.; Rider, E. A.; McBee, J. L.; Miller, A. D.; Tilley, T. D. Chem. Commun. 2009, 233-234.
“9,10-Disubstituted octafluoroanthracene derivatives via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling.” Tannaci, J. F.; Noji, M.; McBee, J. L.; Tilley, T. D. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 7895–7900.
“9,10-Dichlorooctafluoroanthracene as a building block for n-type organic semiconductors.” Tannaci, J. F.; Noji, M.; McBee, J.; Tilley, T. D. J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 5567-5573.
“Reactions of cyclic aliphatic and aromatic amines on Ge(100)-2x1 and Si(100)-2x1.” Wang, G. T.; Mui, C.; Tannaci, J. F.; Filler, M. A.; Musgrave, C. B.; Bent, S. F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 4982-4996.