Ingrid Montes

Chemistry Graduate Program Mentor, Fellow ACS, Fellow IUPAC

e-mail: ingrid.montes2@upr.edu
office: CN-332
office extension: 88528
laboratory: CN-119
homepage: http://www.ingridmontes.org

Research Interests
-Organometallic Synthesis
-Ferrocene Derivatives
-Biological Activity
-Green Chemistry
-Chemical Education

Research
My research interests include organic and organometallic synthesis and chemical education. For the past thirty-six years, I have been teaching at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and performing research in the areas of synthetic organic chemistry and chemical education. Cancer is the second cause of death in the United States reported to the World Health Organization. Many researches are focused on different chemical entities for the design and development of novel and more potent drugs. Chalcones, stilbenes, and aromatic ethyne scaffolds show multiple biological and medicinal properties, including anti-cancer potential. Moreover, it is documented that the incorporation of the ferrocene moiety as an isostere in these scaffolds could improve their bioavailability and biological activity, however, the mechanism of action is still uncertain. Therefore, our research explores and chemically modifies the structure of ferrocenyl chalcone, stilbene, indanones, and ethyne-based scaffolds to study their anticancer and antioxidant activities. Among the proposed modifications to the studied ferrocenyl-based scaffolds are the incorporation of different bioactive groups such as coumarins, adamantyl, phenyl urea, thiourea, and heterocyclic moieties, such as pyridines and pyrimidines. Another modification is to form ammonium or pyridinium salts to increase their water solubility and bioavailability. We correlate some trends of different ferrocenyl cores and aromatic substituents with their biological activity and apply these findings in the design of potential anti-cancer drugs. All compounds are extensively characterized by Infrared, 1H, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, single crystal x-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry.  Antioxidant activity is studied by applying DPPH radical scavenging assay and antitumor activity by MTS colorimetric cell proliferation assays. In the area of chemical education, our research work is based upon the theoretical perspective building on constructivist learning and meaningful learning theory and includes three intertwined branches: the instruction (transmission of attitudes, skills, and habits of inquiry to students), the practice (development of the tools and methods used to teach chemistry) and the assessment.

Refereed Publications
Alsina-Sánchez, A.M.; Montalvo-Vázquez, S.; Grafals-Ruiz, N.; Ormé, E.M.; Rodriguez, I.; Acosta, C.; Delgado-Rivera, S.; Tinoco, A.D.; Dharmawardhane, S.; Montes-González, I. Synthesis of Novel Heterocyclic Ferrocenyl Chalcones and their Biological Evaluation. ACS Omega, 2023, 10.1021/acsomega.3c01830

Frankie Wood-Black, Michael B. Blayney, Marc Reid, Ingrid Montes, Alaa Eldin Bayoumi, Lawrence Sloan, Jacob O. Rothbaum, Masoumeh Foroutan Koudehi, Ramin Zibaseresht, and Laura Bancroft “Highlights: Multilingual Safety Resources, Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions, Ethylene Glycol Purification, and More” ACS Chem. Health Saf. 2020, 27, 313-315.

Sara M. Delgado Rivera, Jean C. González Espiet, Jesüs M. Dones, Sebastián A. Henríquez López, Ana R. Guadalupe, Dalice M. Piñero, Cruz and Ingrid Montes González “Crystal structure of 1-ferrocenyl-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyne” Acta Cryst. 2020,  E76, 1403–1406.

Montes-Gonzalez, I.; Alsina-Sanchez, A. M.; Aponte-Santini, J. C.; Delgado-Rivera, S. M.; Duran-Camacho, G. L. Perspectives of Ferrocenyl Chalcones: Synthetic Scaffolds Toward Biomedical and Materials Science Applications. Pure Appl. Chem. 2019, 91, 653-669.

Sara M. Delgado-Rivera, Giovanny E. Pérez-Ortiz, Andrés Molina-Villarino, Fabiel Morales-Fontán,  Lyannis M. García-Santos, Alma M. González-Albó, Ana R. Guadalupe, Ingrid Montes-González “Synthesis and characterization of novel ferrocenyl chalcone ammonium and pyridinium salt derivatives” Inorg. Chim. Acta; 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2017.07.050.

Myrna Otaño, Kennett Rivero and Ingrid Montes “(E)-1-Ferrocenyl-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one” Acta Cryst., 2014, E70, m108–m109.

Ana Guadalupe, Rocío Cardona, Kenneth Hernandez, Laura Pedro, Myrna Otaño, and Ingrid Montes “Electrochemical and Spectroscopical Characterization of Ferrocenyl Chalcones” Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2010, 157, 104-110.

I. Montes, D Sanabria Ríos “Assessment of Organic Inquiry-Based Laboratory Experiences Targeting Different Learning Styles: Ethnographic Study” The Chemical Educator, 2010, 15, 79–89.

I. Montes, J. Cintron-Maldonado, I. Pérez, V. Montes-Berríos and S. Román “A sticky situation: dissolving chewing gum with chocolate” J. Chem. Ed., 2010, 87, 396-397.

I. Montes, E. Valentín, W. Adam, “Counterion Effects in the Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of the Acetate Ion with Alkyl Bromides in the Synthesis of Esters” J. Chem. Ed., 2009, 86, 1315-1318.

I. Montes, A. Padilla, A. Maldonado, S. Negretti ” Student-Centered Use of Case Studies Incorporating Oral and Writing Skills To Explore Scientific Ethical Misconduct” J. Chem. Ed., 2009, 86, 936-939.

I. Montes, C. Lai “Hey; Where did it go? A Guided Inquiry Experiment for the Organic Chemistry” The Chemical Educator, 2007, 12, 175–176.

I. Montes, J. Jankowski “Celebrating 20 Years of National Chemistry Week” J. Chem. Ed., 2007, 84, 1092.

I. Montes, D. Sanabria Ríos, J. Fajardo, M. García, J. Castro “A Greener Approach to Aspirin Synthesis Using Microwave Irradiation” J. Chem. Ed., 2006, 83, 628-631.

I. Montes and C. Collazo, “ACS Student Affiliates Chapters-More than Just a Chemistry Club” J. Chem. Ed., 2003, 10,1151-52.

I. Montes, C. Lai and D. Sanabria, “Like Dissolves Like” J. Chem. Ed. 2003, 80, 447- 449.

I. Montes, José A. Prieto, Marilyn García, “Using Molecular Modeling in the Organic Chemistry Course for Majors” Journal of Chemical Educator, 2002, 7, 293-296.

Laboratory Manuals
Ingrid Montes, Alejandro Burgos-Suazo, Sara M. Delgado Rivera, Johanna Fajardo Tolentino, José A. Méndez-Román, David J. Sanabria Ríos Experimentos para el Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, 2022, Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico, (ISBN  978-162537-61-45 Edición Digital).

Book Chapters
Counterion Effects in the Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of the Acetate Ion with Alkyl Bromides in the Synthesis of Esters, Ingrid Montes, Elizabeth Valentín and Waldemar Adam; Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Experiments for the Laboratory Classroom, Royal Society of Chemistry, London, UK  pages 68-71(ISBN: 978-1849739634).

Chapter 5: Sowing the seeds of chemistry through Student Chapters: A journey full of commitment, enthusiasm and passion, Ingrid Montes “Building and Maintaining Award-Winning ACS Student Member Chapters Volume 1: Holistic Viewpoints.”, ACS Symposium Series 1229.

Mother and Chemist: Every pitfall is an opportunity to rise with a new beginning, Ingrid Montes; Mom the Chemistry Professor, 2018, 2nd ed, Springer International Publishing, , Switzerland (ISBN 978-3-319-78971-2).

Hispanic Role Models in Science: Advice for Future Scientists, Paola Mina Osorio 2021, (ISBN 978-1735172866).

Non-Refereed Publications
Our challenge: Increase the diversity of the chemistry pipeline, Chemical & Engineering News, November 29, 2021.

Strengthening partnerships with our sister societies, Chemical & Engineering News, October 6, 2020.

Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation: three key elements for globalization, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 97(30), July 29, 2019.

Effect of counterions on the antioxidant activity of ferrocenyl chalcone salt derivatives, Díaz-Rohena, D.; Delgado-Rivera, S.; Baerga, A.; Piñero, D.; Montes, I. Revista Informativa del Programa de Estudios de Honor, : Honores. Universidad de Puerto Rico: Río Piedras, PR. pags. 29-31 http://preh.uprrp.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/HONORES-1ra-Edicion-RevJuly2.pdf

Embracing everyone’s uniqueness to develop a more inclusive culture, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 96(44), November 5, 2018.

Diversifying ACS’s membership demographics, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 95(29), July 17, 2017.

Balancing the global equation for women in STEM, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 94(28), July 11, 2016.

The American Chemical Society and its Spanish resources, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 93(45), November 16, 2015.

10 Years Of Growth For The Festival De Química, Ingrid Montes, Chemical & Engineering News, 93(2), January 12, 2015.