Rational Design of Eco-Friendly Homogeneous Catalysis by Rhodium- and Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation and Decarboxylation

化学部支持北达科他州州立大学的赵品晶教授的努力，以促进催化剂的开发，并增加对铑和铑介导的碳氢（C-H）键活化和脱羧的机理理解。 本研究计划发展了未取代亚胺的[3+2]反应，进一步发展了缺电子芳烃的催化C-H烷基化反应，并研究了铑介导的化学计量和催化脱羧反应。 一些铑（I）和钌（II）与膦和N-杂环卡宾（NHC）配体的配合物的分离和表征。 研究计划通过COINS（自然科学职业机会）计划与教育和推广活动相结合。 该计划鼓励本科生和研究生探索自然科学领域的各种职业机会，并深入该地区的农村社区，以提高公众对科学研究和职业机会的认识。 美国国家科学基金会化学部支持北达科他州州立大学的赵品晶教授开发基于过渡金属的均相催化剂。 有效催化过程的合理设计在很大程度上依赖于对相关基元有机金属反应机理的理解。为了实现这一目标，赵教授和他的团队开发了金属催化的偶联反应，用于合成新药物和商品化学品所需的有效碳-碳和碳-氮键的形成。 除了他的研究，赵教授发起并领导教育和推广计划，在自然科学（COINS）的职业机会。 通过这个奖项和硬币计划，赵教授组织每年夏季研讨会为15-20名高中学生和他们的科学教师在农村北达科他州和明尼苏达州西部。 学生和教师参与讨论研究进展的社会和经济影响，技术转让和商业化，以及化学和其他自然科学的职业机会。

The Division of Chemistry supports the efforts of Professor Pinjing Zhao of North Dakota State University Fargo for catalyst development and increased mechanistic understanding of rhodium-and ruthenium-mediated carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond activation and decarboxylation. This research project develops the [3+2] reaction of unsubstituted imines, further develops catalytic C-H alkylation of electron deficient arenes, and investigates rhodium-mediated stoichiometric and catalytic decarboxylation. A number of rhodium(I) and ruthenium(II) complexes with phosphine and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are isolated and characterized. The research plan is integrated with educational and outreach activities through the COINS (Career Opportunities In Natural Sciences) Program. This program encourages undergraduate and graduate students to explore various career opportunities in the natural sciences and reaches out to rural communities in the region to enhance public awareness of scientific research and career opportunities. The NSF Division of Chemistry supports the efforts of Professor Pinjing Zhao of North Dakota State University Fargo for the development of transition metal-based homogeneous catalysts. Rational design of efficient catalytic processes relies heavily on mechanistic understanding of relevant elementary organometallic reactions. Towards this goal, Professor Zhao and his group develop metal-catalyzed coupling reactions for the efficient carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bond formations needed for the synthesis of new pharmaceuticals and commodity chemicals. In addition to his research, Professor Zhao initiated and leads the educational and outreach program, Career Opportunities in Natural Sciences (COINS). Through this award and the COINS Program, Professor Zhao organizes annual summer workshops for 15-20 high school students and their science teachers in rural North Dakota and western Minnesota. Students and faculty participate in discussions on the social and economic impacts of research advances, technology transfer and commercialization, and career opportunities in chemistry and other natural sciences.