CAREER: Spectroscopic Studies of Transition Metal Ion Catalysis

Metz在实验物理化学计划的支持下，使用光碎片光谱来表征气相过渡金属阳离子和金属氧化物阳离子与简单碳氢化合物反应的金属生成反应、产物和反应中间体。这项工作的目标是确定这些物种的地面和低洼激发态的结构和热化学。此外，他将使用光学双共振方法来表征过渡金属反应中间体基电子态的键合。该职业奖的教育和推广方面包括参与普通化学课程改革，使本科物理化学实验室现代化，并指导来自代表性不足群体的学生。长期以来，化学家们一直在寻找在温和反应条件下破坏烷烃键的实用方法，这是一个难以实现的目标。研究成果有望为实现这一目标提供必要的基本理解。教育计划的成功成果将改善大学预科和本科科学学习经验。

Metz is supported by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to use photofragment spectroscopy to characterize the metal-producing reactions, products, and reaction intermediates for reactions of gas-phase transition metal cations and metal oxide cations with simple hydrocarbons. The goals of this effort are to determine the structure and thermochemistry of the ground and low-lying excited electronic states of these species. In addition, he will use an optical double-resonance approach to characterize bonding in the ground electronic state of transition metal reaction intermediates. The educational and outreach aspects of this CAREER award include participating in general chemistry curricular reform, modernizing the undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory, and mentoring students from underrepresented groups. Chemists have long sought practical approaches to breaking bonds in alkanes under mild reaction conditions, an elusive goal. Outcomes from the research effort are expected to provide aspects of the basic understanding necessary to achieve this goal. Sucessful outcomes from the educational plan will improve the precollege and undergraduate science learning experience.