Paul T. Anastas

Director, Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering
Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
Member of Yale faculty since 2007

E-mail: paul.anastas@yale.edu
Web site: http://www.yale.edu/anastasgroup, http://www.greenchemistry.yale.edu

Research The objective of our research is to achieve increased understanding of the molecular basis of sustainability. Through an elucidation of the properties and interactions that lead to adverse consequence in the human body or in the biosphere, whether toxicological or physical, we can begin to address some of the concerns associated with chemicals in society. The design framework of the Principles of Green Chemistry seeks to optimize synthetic pathways and product design around minimum toxicity and material/energy inefficiency.

One of the specific focus areas of research interest is pursuing the generation of heuristic design rules for the construction of molecular structures of reduced hazard. By understanding the detailed mechanism of action of toxicity, it is possible to manipulate the properties regulating pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in ways that reduce or eliminate the target biological endpoint. This framework is being applied to targets of high concern such as endocrine disruptors, persistent and bioaccumulating substances, and engineered nanostructures.

In process design of green chemistry systems, we seek to explore new chemical systems that accomplish efficient transformations and separations through the use of integrated synthetic and molecular engineering techniques.

Education
B.S. University of Massachusetts, 1984
Ph.D. Brandeis University, 1989

Honors
EPA Silver Medal - Design and Development EPA’s Green Chemistry Program, 1997
Vice-President’s Hammer Award – Green Chemistry Program, 1998
EPA Bronze Medal - Development of Green Chemistry Expert System, 1999
Joseph Seifter Award for Scientific Excellence in Risk Assessment, 1999
Nolan Sommer Award - Distinguished Contributions to Chemistry, 1999
Special Professor, University of Nottingham, 1999
Honorary Professor, Queens University, Belfast, N. Ireland, 2001
Erskine Scholar, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2002
Greek Chemical Society Award for Contributions to Chemistry, 2002
Inaugural Canadian Green Chemistry Medal, Montreal, Canada, 2004
Scientific American 50 Award, Policy Innovation, 2005
H. John Heinz III Award, Environment, 2006
Honorary Doctorate, Queen’s University, Belfast, 2007
John Jeyes Award, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2007
Annual Leadership in Science Award, Council of Scientific Society Presidents, 2008
“ICIS Top Forty” Individuals to the Chemical Industry, 2008

Recent Publications
P.T. Anastas & E.S. Beach. Green Chemistry: The Emergence of a Transformative Framework. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews 2007, 1, 9-24.

I. Horvath & P.T. Anastas. Innovations and Green Chemistry. Chem. Rev. 2007, 107, 2169 -2173.

M,J, Eckelman, P.T. Anastas, & J.B. Zimmerman. Spatial assessment of net mercury emissions from the use of fluorescent bulbs. Environmental Science and Technology 2008, 42, 8564–8570.

N. Eghbali, J. Eddy, & P. Anastas. Silver Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Aryl Naphthalene Lactones. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 70, 6932-6935.

J.B. Manley, P.T. Anastas, & B.W. Cue. Frontiers in Green Chemistry: meeting the grand challenges for sustainability in R&D and manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production 2008, 16, 743-750.

Paul T. Anastas

Research Interests