William Dichtel

Last updated

William Dichtel
Born (1978-09-19) September 19, 1978 (age 47)
Houston, Texas
Alma mater Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. (2000)
University of California Berkeley Ph.D. (2005)
Awards Beckman Young Investigators Award, [1] MacArthur Fellow
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
Institutions Northwestern University (2016-present)

Cornell University (2008-2016)
University of California Los Angeles (2005–2008)

Contents

California Institute of Technology (2005–2008)
Thesis Design and synthesis of porphyrin containing macromolecules for light harvesting and catalysis  (2005)
Doctoral advisor Jean Fréchet
Other academic advisors Sir Fraser Stoddart, Jim Heath, Tim Swager
Website sites.northwestern.edu/dichtel/

William Dichtel (born 1978, Houston, Texas) [2] is an American chemist and the Robert L. Letsinger Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University. [3] He is known for pioneering work in an emerging class of polymers known as covalent organic frameworks (COFs), two-dimensional polymers, and porous materials for environmental remediation including novel methods for forever chemical (PFAS) destruction and recycling polyurethane foams. Dichtel's research has been recognized nationally and internationally, receiving the MacArthur Fellowship in 2015, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018, [4] and the Blavatnik National Award in Chemistry in 2020. [5] He also founded cylopure, a university spin-off that seeks to bring to market water filtration with cyclodextrin polymers. [6]

Professor Dichtel is an accomplished open water swimmer. He completed the Chicago Sky Line Swim in 2020 [7] as well as successfully crossing the English Channel on June 25, 2024 in 12 hours, 8 minutes.

Early life and education

Dichtel was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000, where he worked with Prof. Timothy M. Swager. [8] He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley in 2005 under Jean M. J. Fréchet, focusing on porphyrin-containing dendrimers for light harvesting applications. [9] [10] [11] He then moved to Los Angeles to perform joint postdoctoral research between 2005 and 2008 with Prof. Fraser Stoddart at UCLA, and Prof. James R. Heath at Caltech, where he studied rotaxanes. [12] [13]

Independent career

Dichtel began his independent career in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University in 2008, and was promoted to associate professor in 2014. [8] He moved to Northwestern University in 2016 as the Robert L. Letsinger Professor of Chemistry. At Northwestern, the Dichtel Research Group focuses on using organic synthesis and noncovalent assembly to control the structure and reactivity of molecules, materials, and interfaces across chemical environments; moreover, the group uses the tools of synthetic chemistry to better understand and design nanostructured materials.

Research contributions

Dichtel’s research integrates synthetic and polymer chemistry to create porous materials and two-dimensional polymers with applications in separations, energy storage, and sustainability. [14]

2D polymers and covalent organic frameworks: Dichtel’s research helped establish 2D-COFs as a new class of porous polymers, [15] demonstrating redox-active frameworks, [16] thin-film growth on graphene, [17] and mechanistic control over crystallization. [18] [19] [20] [21] In 2025, his team reported the first mechanically interlocked two-dimensional polymer, formed by topochemical polymerization to yield layered sheets with enhanced mechanical properties. [22]

Water purification: Dichtel developed cyclodextrin-based porous polymers that rapidly remove organic micropollutants [23] [24] [25] and PFAS from water. These materials underpin commercial products containing DEXSORB® technology from cyclopure, which he founded in 2016. He also led a 2022 study describing a simple, low-temperature method to degrade multiple PFAS classes using dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium hydroxide. [26]

Recycling thermoset polyurethanes as covalent adaptable networks: Dichtel and his research group developed a new recycling method for polyurethane foams, [27] [28] [29] [30] one of the most common types of plastic, that uses nontoxic, greener catalysts. The process involves chemical reactions that simultaneously reprocess and “refoam” polyurethane after heating in the presence of a catalyst. [31] [32] The types of polymers that require this catalyst approach are called thermosets, or cross-linked polymers. Thermosets are important because of their superior durability and stability, but these properties come at the expense of recyclability. New methods to recycle thermosets will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and decrease landfill use.

Awards and honors

Selected publications

Two-Dimensional Polymerization and Covalent Organic Frameworks

  1. Bardot, M. I.; Weyrich, C. W.; Shi, Z.; Traxler, M.; Stern, C. L.; Cui, J.; Muller, D. A.; Becker, M. L.; Dichtel, W. R. “Mechanically Interlocked Two-Dimensional Polymers.” Science, 2025, 387, 264-269. DOI: 10.1126/science.ads4968
  2. Natraj, A.; Landman, I. R.; Pelkowski, C. E.; Burke, D. W.; Kewalramani, S.; Dichtel, W. R.; “Nonclassical Crystallization Processes of Single-Crystalline Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2024, 146, 16775-16786, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04674
  3. Natraj, A.; Ji, W.; Xin, J.; Catano, I.; Burke, D. W.; Evans, A. M.; Strauss, M. J.; Ateia; M.; Hamachi, L. S.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Alothman, Z. A.; Sun, J.; Yusuf, K.; Dichtel, W. R.; “Single Crystalline Imine-Linked Two -Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks Separate Benzene and Cyclohexane Efficiently.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2022, 144, 19813–19824. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07166
  4. Evans, A.M.; Strauss, M.J.; Corcos, A.R.; Hirani, Z.; Ji, W.; Hamachi, L.S.; Aguilar-Enriquez, X.; Chavez, A.D.; Smith, B.J., and Dichtel, W.R. “Two-Dimensional Polymers and Polymerizations.” Chem. Rev.2022, 122, 442-564. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01184
  5. Evans, A.M.; Giri, A.; Sangwan, V. K.; Xun, S.; Bartnof, M.; Torres-Castanedo, C. G.; Balch, H. B.; Rahn, M. S.; Bradshaw, N. P.; Vitaku, E.; Burke, D. W.; Li, H.; Bedzyk, M. J.; Wang, F.; Bredas, J.-L.; Malen, J. A.; McGaughey, A. J. H.; Hersam, M. C.; Dichtel, W. R.; Hopkins, P. E. “Thermally conductive ultra-low-k dielectric layers based on two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks.” Nature Mater. 2021, 20, 1142-1148, DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-00934-3
  6. Evans, A. M.; Parent, L. R.; Flanders, N. C.; Bisbey, R. P; Vitaku, E.; Chen, L. X.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Dichtel, W. R.; “Seeded Growth of Single-Crystal Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks.” Science,2018, 361, 52–57. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7883
  7. Smith, B. J.; Dichtel, W. R. “Mechanistic studies of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks rapidly polymerized from initially homogenous conditions.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2014, 136, 8783–8789. DOI: 10.1021/ja5037868
  8. DeBlase, C. R.; Silberstein, K. E.; Truong, T.; Abruña, H. D.; Dichtel, W. R. “β-Ketoenamine-linked covalent organic frameworks capable of pseudocapacitive energy storage.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2013, 135, 16821–16824. DOI: 10.1021/ja409421d
  9. Colson, J. W.; Woll, A. R.; Mukherjee, A.; Levendorf, M. A.; Spitler, E. L.; Shields, V. S.; Spencer, M. A.; Park, J.; Dichtel, W. R.; “Oriented 2D covalent organic framework thin films on single layer graphene.” Science,2011, 332, 228–231. DOI: 10.1126/science.1202747
  10. Spitler, E. L.; Dichtel W. R.; “Lewis acid-catalysed formation of two-dimensional phthalocyanine covalent organic frameworks.” Nature Chem.2010, 2, 672–677. DOI: 10.1038/nchem.695

Polymers for Removing Organic Pollutants and PFAS from Water

  1. Lin, Z.-W.; Kim, S.; Dyakiv, Y.; Gedangoni, E. F. P.; Packman, A. I.; Helbling, D. E.; Getzinger, G. J.; Dichtel, W. R. “A Macroporous Cyclodextrin Monolith for Continuous Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Water.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2025, 147, 33761-33769. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c09865
  2. Wang, R.; Lin, Z. W.; Klemes, M. J.; Ateia, M.; Trang, B.; Wang, J.; Ching, C.; Helbling, D. E.; Dichtel, W.R. “A Tunable Porous Beta-Cyclodextrin Polymer Platform to Understand and Improve Anionic PFAS Removal.” ACS Cent. Sci.2022, 8, 663-669. DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c00478
  3. Klemes, M. J.; Ling, Y.; Ching, C.; Wu, V.; Helbling, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. “Reduction of a Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile‐β‐Cyclodextrin Polymer to Remove Anionic Micropollutants and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances from Water.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2019, 58, 12049-12053. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905142
  4. Xiao, L.; Ling, Y.; Alsbaiee, A.; Li, C.; Helbing, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. “β-Cyclodextrin Polymer Network Sequesters Perfluorooctanoic Acid at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2017, 139, 7689-7692. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02381
  5. Alsbaiee, A.; Smith, B. J.; Xiao, L.; Ling, Y.; Helbling, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. “Rapid removal of organic micropollutants from water by a porous β-cyclodextrin polymer.” Nature, 2016, 529, 190–194. DOI: 10.1038/nature16185

Covalent Adaptable Networks / Vitrimers and Polyurethane Circularity

  1. Kim, S.; Felsenthal, L. M.; Sala, O.; Welz, O.; Bergeler, M.; Alsbaiee, A.; Dichtel W. R. “Reprocessing Thermoset Polyurethane Foams Using Their Residual Polymerization Catalysts.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2025, 147, 35655-35663. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11319
  2. Kim, S.; Li, K.; Alsbaiee, A.; Brutman, J. P.; Dichtel, W. R. “Circular Reprocessing of Thermoset Polyurethane Foams.” Adv. Mater.2023, 35, 2305387. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305387
  3. Elling, B. R.; Dichtel, W. R. “Reprocessable Cross-Linked Polymer Networks: Are Associative Exchange Mechanisms Desirable?” ACS Cent. Sci.2020, 6, 1488-1496. DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00567
  4. Sheppard, D. T.; Jin, K.; Hamachi, L. S; Dean, W.; Fortman, D. J.; Ellison, C. J.; Dichtel, W. R. “Reprocessing Postconsumer Polyurethane Foam Using Carbamate Exchange Catalysis and Twin-Screw Extrusion” ACS Cent. Sci.2020, 6, 6, 921-927, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00083
  5. Fortman, D. J.; Brutman, J. A.; Cramer, C. J.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Dichtel, W. R. “Mechanically Activated, Catalyst-free Polyhydroxyurethane Vitrimers.” J. Am. Chem. Soc.2015, 137, 14019–14022. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b08084

References

  1. ↑ "William Dichtel". Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ "William Dichtel". Dichtel Research Profile. Northwestern University.
  3. ↑ "Dichtel Research Group | At the Interface of Organic and Materials Chemistry". Northwestern University.
  4. ↑ "John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Will Dichtel" . Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Announce 2020 Laureates". Blavatnik Family Foundation. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ Bomgardner, Melody M. (February 22, 2019). "CycloPure raises $5 million for cyclodextrin water filtration products". cen.acs.org. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Professor Will Dichtel Sets Record Overnight For Chicago Skyline Swim".
  8. 1 2 "William Dichtel – Dichtel Research Group". sites.northwestern.edu. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Dichtel, William R.; Serin, Jason M.; Edder, Carine; Fréchet, Jean M. J.; Matuszewski, Michael; Tan, Loon-Seng; Ohulchanskyy, Tymish Y.; Prasad, Paras N. (2004). "Singlet Oxygen Generation via Two-Photon Excited FRET" . Journal of the American Chemical Society. 126 (17): 5380–5381. Bibcode:2004JAChS.126.5380D. doi:10.1021/ja031647x. ISSN   0002-7863. PMID   15113208.
  10. ↑ Dichtel, William R.; Hecht, Stefan; Fréchet, Jean M. J. (2005). "Functionally Layered Dendrimers: A New Building Block and Its Application to the Synthesis of Multichromophoric Light-Harvesting Systems" . Organic Letters. 7 (20): 4451–4454. doi:10.1021/ol0516824. ISSN   1523-7060. PMID   16178556.
  11. ↑ Dichtel, William R.; Baek, Kyung-Youl; Fréchet, Jean M. J.; Rietveld, Ivo B.; Vinogradov, Sergei A. (2006). "Amphiphilic diblock star polymer catalysts via atom transfer radical polymerization" . Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry. 44 (17): 4939–4951. Bibcode:2006JPoSA..44.4939D. doi:10.1002/pola.21610. ISSN   1099-0518.
  12. ↑ Dichtel, William R.; Miljanić, Ognjen Š.; Spruell, Jason M.; Heath, James R.; Stoddart, J. Fraser (August 1, 2006). "Efficient Templated Synthesis of Donor−Acceptor Rotaxanes Using Click Chemistry" . Journal of the American Chemical Society. 128 (32): 10388–10390. Bibcode:2006JAChS.12810388D. doi:10.1021/ja063127i. ISSN   0002-7863. PMID   16895403.
  13. ↑ Dichtel, William R; Heath, James R; Fraser Stoddart, J (June 15, 2007). "Designing bistable [2]rotaxanes for molecular electronic devices" . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 365 (1855): 1607–1625. Bibcode:2007RSPTA.365.1607D. doi:10.1098/rsta.2007.2034. PMID   17430812. S2CID   2278747.
  14. ↑ "Evans, A.M.; Strauss, M.J.; Corcos, A.R.; Hirani, Z.; Ji, W.; Hamachi, L.S.; Aguilar-Enriquez, X.; Chavez, A.D.; Smith, B.J., and Dichtel, W.R. "Two-Dimensional Polymers and Polymerizations." Chem. Rev. 2022, 122, 442-564. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01184".
  15. ↑ "Spitler, E. L.; Dichtel W. R.; "Lewis acid-catalysed formation of two-dimensional phthalocyanine covalent organic frameworks." Nature Chem. 2010, 2, 672–677".
  16. ↑ "DeBlase, C. R.; Silberstein, K. E.; Truong, T.; Abruña, H. D.; Dichtel, W. R. "β-Ketoenamine-linked covalent organic frameworks capable of pseudocapacitive energy storage." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 16821–16824. DOI: 10.1021/ja409421d".
  17. ↑ "Colson, J. W.; Woll, A. R.; Mukherjee, A.; Levendorf, M. A.; Spitler, E. L.; Shields, V. S.; Spencer, M. A.; Park, J.; Dichtel, W. R.; "Oriented 2D covalent organic framework thin films on single layer graphene." Science, 2011, 332, 228–231. DOI:10.1126/science.1202747".
  18. ↑ "Natraj, A.; Landman, I. R.; Pelkowski, C. E.; Burke, D. W.; Kewalramani, S.; Dichtel, W. R.; "Nonclassical Crystallization Processes of Single-Crystalline Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 16775-16786, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04674".
  19. ↑ "Natraj, A.; Ji, W.; Xin, J.; Catano, I.; Burke, D. W.; Evans, A. M.; Strauss, M. J.; Ateia; M.; Hamachi, L. S.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Alothman, Z. A.; Sun, J.; Yusuf, K.; Dichtel, W. R.; "Single Crystalline Imine-Linked Two -Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks Separate Benzene and Cyclohexane Efficiently." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 19813–19824. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07166".
  20. ↑ "Evans, A. M.; Parent, L. R.; Flanders, N. C.; Bisbey, R. P; Vitaku, E.; Chen, L. X.; Gianneschi, N. C.; Dichtel, W. R.; "Seeded Growth of Single-Crystal Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks." Science, 2018, 361, 52–57. DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7883".
  21. ↑ "Smith, B. J.; Dichtel, W. R. "Mechanistic studies of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks rapidly polymerized from initially homogenous conditions." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 8783–8789. DOI: 10.1021/ja5037868".
  22. ↑ "Bardot, M. I.; Weyrich, C. W.; Shi, Z.; Traxler, M.; Stern, C. L.; Cui, J.; Muller, D. A.; Becker, M. L.; Dichtel, W. R. "Mechanically Interlocked Two-Dimensional Polymers." Science, 2025, 387, 264-269. DOI: 10.1126/science.ads4968".
  23. ↑ "Klemes, M. J.; Ling, Y.; Ching, C.; Wu, V.; Helbling, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. "Reduction of a Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile‐β‐Cyclodextrin Polymer to Remove Anionic Micropollutants and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances from Water." Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 12049-12053. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905142".
  24. ↑ "Xiao, L.; Ling, Y.; Alsbaiee, A.; Li, C.; Helbing, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. "β-Cyclodextrin Polymer Network Sequesters Perfluorooctanoic Acid at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 7689-7692. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02381".
  25. ↑ "Alsbaiee, A.; Smith, B. J.; Xiao, L.; Ling, Y.; Helbling, D. E.; Dichtel, W. R. "Rapid removal of organic micropollutants from water by a porous β-cyclodextrin polymer." Nature, 2016, 529, 190–194. DOI: 10.1038/nature16185".
  26. ↑ "Brittany Trang et al. ,Low-temperature mineralization of perfluorocarboxylic acids.Science377,839-845(2022).DOI:10.1126/science.abm8868".
  27. ↑ "Kim, S.; Li, K.; Alsbaiee, A.; Brutman, J. P.; Dichtel, W. R. "Circular Reprocessing of Thermoset Polyurethane Foams." Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2305387. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305387".
  28. ↑ "Kim, S.; Felsenthal, L. M.; Sala, O.; Welz, O.; Bergeler, M.; Alsbaiee, A.; Dichtel W. R. "Reprocessing Thermoset Polyurethane Foams Using Their Residual Polymerization Catalysts." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 35655-35663. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11319".
  29. ↑ "Sheppard, D. T.; Jin, K.; Hamachi, L. S; Dean, W.; Fortman, D. J.; Ellison, C. J.; Dichtel, W. R. "Reprocessing Postconsumer Polyurethane Foam Using Carbamate Exchange Catalysis and Twin-Screw Extrusion" ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, 6, 6, 921-927, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00083".
  30. ↑ "Fortman, D. J.; Brutman, J. A.; Cramer, C. J.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Dichtel, W. R. "Mechanically Activated, Catalyst-free Polyhydroxyurethane Vitrimers." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 14019–14022. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b08084".
  31. ↑ "Elling, B. R.; Dichtel, W. R. "Reprocessable Cross-Linked Polymer Networks: Are Associative Exchange Mechanisms Desirable?" ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, 6, 1488-1496. DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00567".
  32. ↑ "Fortman, D. J.; Brutman, J. A.; Cramer, C. J.; Hillmyer, M. A.; Dichtel, W. R. "Mechanically Activated, Catalyst-free Polyhydroxyurethane Vitrimers." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 14019–14022. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b08084".
  33. ↑ "Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2025".
  34. ↑ "ACS Global Outstanding Student and Mentor Awards in Polymer Science and Engineering 2025".
  35. ↑ "Dichtel Named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science".
  36. ↑ "Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, William R. Dichtel, 2020 National Award Winner — Faculty".
  37. ↑ "William Dichtel wins Akron Award".
  38. ↑ "RCSA Names William Dichtel 2018 Cottrell FRED Winner".
  39. ↑ "Guggenheim Fellows, Will Dichtel".
  40. ↑ "William Dichtel, 38, Northwestern University Chemistry Professor & Co-founder of CycloPure".
  41. ↑ "NJ ACS Awards".
  42. ↑ "Will Dichtel Awarded the Arthur K. Doolittle Award".
  43. ↑ "MacArthur Foundation Class of 2015- William R. Dichtel".
  44. ↑ "Polymer International-IUPAC Award- Previous Winners".
  45. ↑ "Cottrell Scholar William Dichtel is 2014 Fresenius Award Winner".
  46. ↑ "Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program" (PDF).
  47. ↑ "Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award Recipients".
  48. ↑ "Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation- Dr. William Dichtel, PhD, Award Recipient".
  49. ↑ "William Dichtel, Cottrell Scholar Award".
  50. ↑ "Cornell Chronicle, Five faculty receive NSF CAREER awards".
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