Eric Helms

Associate Professor of Chemistry
ISC 326H
585-245-5927
helms@geneseo.edu
he/him/his

Eric Helms has been a member of the Geneseo faculty since 2001; He was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2014.

 

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Picture of Eric Helms

Office Hours

My office hours for the Fall semester of 2022 are Mondays and Fridays from 1 pm until 4 pm or just drop me an email and we will work to set up a time to meet outside of those hours.

Classes

  • CHEM 211: Organic Chemistry I

    An introduction to modern organic chemistry using a functional group approach. Topics include structure/reactivity relationships, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy.

  • CHEM 213: Organic Chemistry II

    Continuation of CHEM 211 with emphasis on the biochemically important alcohol, amine, carbonyl and aromatic functional groups. Structure elucidation by spectroscopic methods is also explored.

  • CHEM 318: Advanced Organic Chemistry

    Organic synthesis: Introduction to retrosynthetic analysis including a detailed study of methods of introducing stereo control. Mechanistic organic chemistry: conformational analysis, transition state theory, kinetics and reaction mechanism, computer modeling, and other topics of contemporary interest. Prerequisites: CHEM 213 or CHEM 224. Co-requisites: CHEM 324 or CHEM 320 or permission of the instructor. Not offered on a regular basis

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

  • B.S., Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois

Publications

  • Coffey, J. M., Vadas, A., Puleo, Y., Lewis, K., Pirone, G., Rudolf, H.L., Helms, E.D., Wood, T. D., and Flynn- Charlebois, A.; “Synthesis and Characterization of a Deuterium-Labeled Stercobilin: A Potential Biomarker for Autism”, Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 2018; 14 May, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jlcr.3629

  • Hilimire, Thomas; Chamberlain, Jeffrey; Anokhina, Viktoriya; Bennett, Ryan; Swart, Oliver; Myers, Jason; Ashton, John; Stewart, Ryan; Gates, Kathleen; Featherston, Aaron; Helms, Eric; Smith, Harold; Dewhurst, Stephen; Miller, Benjamin; “HIV-1 Frameshift RNA-Targeted Triazoles Inhibit Propagation of Replication-Competent and Multi Drug-Resistant HIV in Human Cells”, Publication Date (Web): April 27, 2017 (Articles) DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00052.

  • Best, Katherine T., Li, Diana, Helms, Eric D.; “Molecular Modeling of an Electrophilic Addition Reaction with ‘Unexpected’ Regiochemisty” The Journal of Chemical Education, 2017, 94(7), 936 – 940. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00488. Publication Date (Web) April 27, 2017.

  • Hilimire TA, Bennett RP, Stewart RA, Garcia-Miranda P, Blume A, Becker J, Sherer N, Helms ED, Butcher SE, Smith HC, Miller BL.; “N-Methylation as a Strategy for Enhancing the Affinity and Selectivity of RNA-binding Peptides: Application to the HIV-1 Frameshift-Stimulating RNA”; ACS Chemical Biology, 2016, 11(1), 88 – 94.

  • Swoger, Bonnie J.M..; Helms, E.; “An Organic Chemistry Exercise in Information Literacy Using SciFinder”; Journal of Chemical Education, 2015, 92 (4), 668–671.

  • Arpaia, N.; Widener, M.; Helms, E.; "Assigning the NMR Spectrum of Glycidol: An Advanced Organic Chemistry Exercise"; Journal of Chemical Education, 2007, 84(8), 1328 - 1330.

  • Odenbaugh, Amy L. , Helms, Eric D., Iverson, Brent L.; "An Investigation of Antibody Acyl Hydrolysis Catalysis Using a Large Set of Related Haptens"; Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, 8, 413-426.

  • Shreder, K., Thomas, R., Wallace, M., Helms, E., Iverson, B.; "Evolution of Catalytic Activity throughout a Polyclonal Immune Response Elicited by a Transition-State-Analog Hapten."; Isr. J. Chem., 1996, 36, 215-220.

Interests

Research Interests

Analyzing the phytochemistry of Elaeagnus umbellata fruits as they mature over a growing season as well as the phytochemistry of the leaves and stems.

Developing a genetic test to differentiate the different members of the Elaeagnus genus in order to produce a rapid identification assay.

Developing green synthetic pathways, utilizing bio-derived and bio-degradable solvents, with an eye toward producing useful molecules without petroleum-derived solvents.

 

Personal Interests

  • Bioorganic Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Functional Foods