RUI: Activation of Small Molecules by Hexanuclear Clusters

化学合成（SYN）计划中的这一奖项支持了丽莎F教授的工作。Szczepura在伊利诺斯州州立大学进行基础研究，以确定八面体六核金属配合物激活小分子的范围和机制。 感兴趣的反应是[2+3]偶极环加成和亲核加成涉及腈，异腈，叠氮化物。 将研究不同末端配体的反应性，并对这些反应的机理进行研究。 这些调查将导致更深入地了解这些集群核心的影响小分子活化的因素。 此外，这些研究将有助于探索八面体簇合物作为催化剂和新型固态材料的构建块的潜在应用。 通过将丰富研讨会计划的成功概念（由CAREER奖的资金开发）纳入她的指导和研究工作中，PI希望在本科和研究生阶段培养训练有素、积极主动、代表性不足的科学家。 特别是，指导来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的大一或大二学生将有助于提高伊利诺伊州立大学这些学生的保留率和成功率。这些研究将提供一个更好的理解小的有机分子的活化过渡金属簇，并将深入了解这种活化的机理方面。 小分子活化涉及形成许多在有机合成中起关键作用的重要化合物，以及许多不同的行业，包括：制药，炸药，染料和农业。

This award in the Chemical Synthesis (SYN) program supports work by Professor Lisa F. Szczepura at Illinois State University to carry out fundamental studies to determine the scope and mechanism of small molecule activation by octahedral hexanuclear metal complexes. The reactions of interest are [2+3] dipolar cycloadditions and nucleophilic additions involving nitriles, isonitriles, and azides. The reactivity of different terminal ligands will be investigated, and a study of the mechanistic aspects of these reactions will be performed. These investigations will result in a deeper understanding of the factors that influence small molecule activation by these cluster cores. In addition, these studies will help probe potential applications of octahedral cluster complexes as catalysts and as building blocks in new solid state materials. By incorporating successful concepts from the Enrichment Workshop Program, developed with funds from a CAREER award, into her mentoring and research efforts, the PI hopes to generate well trained, motivated, underrepresented scientists at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In particular, mentorship of freshman or sophomore students from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences will help increase the retention and success rate of these students at Illinois State University. These studies will provide a better understanding of the activation of small organic molecules by transition metal clusters and will lend insight into the mechanistic aspects of this activation. Small molecule activation involves the formation of a number of fundamentally important compounds that play key roles in organic synthesis, and in a number of different industries including: pharmaceuticals, explosives, dyes and agriculture.