Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Binding, Radical, and Radical Promoted Reactions of Sulfur Ligands at Transition Metal Centers.

该无机、生物无机和有机金属化学奖支持迈阿密大学Carl Hoff教授的研究，通过揭示反应途径中关键中间体的能量含量，对催化剂如何促进哈伯过程的规则有了基本的了解。重点是第一个逻辑中间体N2H，它是高度不稳定的，除非它与金属配合物或其他催化物质结合。需要解决的两个主要问题是，就所涉及的能源变化而言，如何使这第一步更有利。第二个是如何通过添加第三方（酶辅因子的模拟物）来加快反应过程，从而使反应发生得更快。开发一种低温固氮催化剂将对氮化合物的生产产生巨大的影响和节约能源。迈阿密项目将与Josh Telser教授（罗斯福大学）和Alex Angerhofer教授（佛罗里达大学和国家强磁场实验室）的项目建立基础设施和合作联系。这些院校的本科生在其他院校的研究工作均可获得资助。这三个校区都有大量传统上代表性不足的群体，特别是迈阿密的西班牙裔学生和罗斯福的非洲裔美国学生。所学到的技术和方法将为学生提供丰富多样的教育，并为在竞争激烈的化学事业中取得进步提供必要的训练。

This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry supports research by Professor Carl Hoff at the University of Miami to gain a fundamental understanding of the rules of how catalysts facilitate the Haber process by unraveling the energy content of key intermediates along the reaction pathway. vFocus is on the first logical intermediate N2H, which is highly unstable unless it is bound to a metal complex or other catalytic species. The two principle questions to be addressed are how this first step can be made more favorable in terms of the energy changes involved. The second is how it can be made to occur faster by addition of a third party (a mimic of an enzyme cofactor) to speed up the reaction process. Development of a low temperature catalyst for nitrogen fixation would have a tremendous impact and result in energy savings in the production of nitrogen compounds. Infrastructure and collaborative linkage will be established between the Miami program and that of Professor Josh Telser (Roosevelt Univesity) and Professor Alex Angerhofer (University of Florida and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory). Undergraduate students from any of these institutions will be supported for research work at any of the others. Significant populations of traditionally under represented groups are present at all three campuses, particularly Hispanic students at Miami, and African American students at Roosevelt. The techniques and methods learned will provide a rich and diverse student education with the training essential for progress in a competitive chemical endeavors.