International Collaboration in Chemistry: Redox Control of Chemical Bond Forming Reactions

University Of Hawaii, Honolulu

Investigators

Abstract

This international award by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program and the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) at NSF and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in Germany supports Professor David A. Vicic of the University of Hawaii for the development of new methods of chemical bond formation using one-electron redox processes. The researchers will rationally manipulate alkyl-alkyl cross coupling reactions so that new, saturated carbon-carbon bonds can be formed. The spectroelectrochemical analyses of terpyridine-based nickel complexes are being studied under catalytically-relevant conditions and preparative-scale, electrocatalytic cross-coupling reactions will be explored. Professor Axel Klein of the University of Cologne in Germany will collaborate on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy measurements and spectroelectrochemical studies. U.S. graduate students will be trained in his laboratories. The introduction of a new EPR spectrometer (co-funded by the University of Hawaii) will be unique in the state and will greatly enhance the infrastructure of this geographically-remote location. The alkyl-alkyl cross coupling reactions represent high risk / high reward chemistry that may play crucial roles in synthesis of saturated carbon-carbon bonds, important feedstocks for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.