Presidential Faculty Fellow: Characterization of Novel Main Group and Transition Metal Complexes

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Dr. Gerard Parkin of the Chemistry Department, Columbia University, is one of thirty recipients of the 1992 Presidential Faculty Fellow Award. This prestigious award for young faculty members is given in recognition of excellence and promise in scientific research and teaching. Parkin was honored for work in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. He has shown through meticulous methods that bond-stretch isomerism is an artifact of crystallographic impurities. His work with main group and transition metal complexes of (pyrazolyl)hydroborate have led to novel results. First, he isolated and characterized the first monomeric three-coordinate zinc alkyl derivative and the monomeric terminal hydride complexes of zinc and beryllium. In addition, he has developed a monomeric zinc hydroxy derivative which serves as a structural and chemical model for active site of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Recently, he has isolated compounds with terminal tellurium bonds. He is also known as an enthusiastic teacher and mentor and has been involved in curriculum revision and a special program with high school students.