CAREER: Catalytic C-C Bond Formation and Cleavage at Cobalt: Mechanism, Origins and Application

来自布朗大学的Wesley Bernskoetter教授获得了由化学部门化学催化项目资助的CAREER奖，他正在研究地球上丰富金属中选择性双电子碳-碳键转化的机制途径和起源。特别是，催化应用所必需的介导碳-碳键还原消除和氧化加成反应的强场钴配合物正在成为目标。这些基础研究考察了诸如配体场强、自旋态相互转化和配位几何等因素，这些因素可能会影响这些转化的速率和选择性。本研究将进一步利用贱金属代替铂族金属催化从交叉偶联到碳氰化的各种反应。与研究工作相一致，该项目通过同伴指导和辅导以及通过对大学预科学生的基于发现的物理科学介绍来加强对本科生的培训。各种各样的制造业依靠金属基催化以能源效率和成本效益的方式生产化学品和材料。在过去的几十年里，由金属催化剂促进的重要的新催化反应的数量显著增长；然而，这些发现所使用的金属大多来自一组昂贵、稀有和有毒的金属。这个研究项目旨在开发一些途径来完成一些同样重要的催化反应，使用更丰富、更便宜、潜在毒性更小的金属。这项工作的未来影响可能包括发展更经济和可持续的制造技术。该项目还将包括为下一代研究科学家提供专业培训，并为大学预科学生提供机会，让他们发现科学在社会中的重要地位。

In this CAREER award funded by the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Wesley Bernskoetter from Brown University is investigating the mechanistic pathways and origins of selective two-electron, carbon-carbon bond transformations at earth abundant metals. In particular, strong field cobalt complexes that mediate carbon-carbon bond reductive elimination and oxidative addition reactions necessary for catalytic applications are being targeted. These fundamental studies examine factors such as ligand field strength, spin state interconversion, and coordination geometry, which may influence the rate and selectivity of these transformations. This research will further the utilization of base-metals as surrogates for platinum group metal catalysis in reactions ranging from cross-coupling to carbocyanation. In concert with the research endeavors, this project is enhancing the training of undergraduate students through peer mentoring and tutorials as well as through a discovery-based introduction to physical sciences for pre-college students. A variety of manufacturing industries rely on metal-based catalysis to produce chemicals and materials in an energy efficient and cost-effective manner. The past decades have witnessed a significant growth in the number of important new catalytic reactions promoted by metal catalysts; however, the metals employed in these discoveries have largely come from a group of expensive, rare, and toxic metals. This research project seeks to develop routes to accomplish some of the same important catalytic reactions using metals that are much more abundant, less expensive, and potentially less toxic. Future impacts of the work could include the development of more economical and sustainable manufacturing technologies. This project will also include professional training for the next generation of research scientists and opportunities for pre-college students to discover the important place of science in society.