SusChEM Workshop on Base Metal Catalysis

普林斯顿大学的Paul J. Chirik教授和加州大学欧文分校的Elizabeth Jarvo教授在化学系化学催化项目的支持下主持了一个研讨会，讨论寻找丰富的、相对无毒的、廉价的贵金属催化剂替代品的机会和困难。研讨会汇集了不同群体的成熟和新兴领导者，以解决缺乏现成的合成前体，有害自由基化学的抑制，独特的机理途径和金属性质的识别和优化，以及光谱和理论/计算方法的实施，以表征作为均相反应催化剂的开壳过渡金属化合物。贱金属催化剂要达到或超过贵金属催化剂（如铂、钯、金等）的成功，必须解决这些关键问题。催化剂对可再生能源的商业化生产、聚合物和建筑材料的制造以及化学品和药品的合成都起着至关重要的作用。本研讨会的重点是基础研究，在这些研究中，稀有、昂贵和/或有毒的金属被地球上丰富、廉价和良性的化学物质所取代。工业参与强调了在商业经济中与贱金属催化有关的实际挑战。为了扩大传播范围，本次研讨会与2013年9月8日至12日在印第安纳州印第安纳波利斯举行的秋季美国化学会全国会议同时举行。此外，研讨会的会议记录和结论通过网站和研讨会报告向科学界传播。

Professors Paul J. Chirik of Princeton University, and Elizabeth Jarvo of the University of California-Irvine, are supported by the Chemical Catalysis Program in the Division of Chemistry to chair a workshop to discuss the opportunities and difficulties in seeking abundant, relatively non-toxic, and inexpensive alternatives for precious metal catalysts. The workshop brings together a diverse group of established and emerging leaders in order to address the lack of readily available synthetic precursors, the suppression of deleterious radical chemistry, the identification and optimization of unique mechanistic pathways and metal properties, and the implementation of spectroscopic and theoretical/computational methods for characterizing open shell transition metal compounds serving as catalysts in homogeneous reactions. Each of these critical topics must be addressed for base metal catalysts to attain or surpass the success of their precious metal (e.g. platinum, palladium, gold, etc.) counterparts. Catalysts plays a critical for the commercial production of renewable energy as well as for the manufacture of polymers and building materials, and the synthesis of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This workshop focuses on fundamental research in which rare, expensive, and/or toxic metals are replaced with earth-abundant, inexpensive, and benign chemicals. Industrial participation underscores the practical challenges associated with base metal catalysis in the commercial economy. In order to broaden dissemination, this workshop is coupled with the Fall American Chemical Society National Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana (Sept. 8-12, 2013). Additionally, the workshop proceedings and conclusions are disseminated to the scientific community through websites and a workshop report.