Expanding Reductive Chemistry and Oxidation State Diversity within the Synthetic Chemistry of the Rare-Earth Metals

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Professor William J. Evans at the University of California, Irvine, is supported by the Chemical Synthesis Program of the Chemistry Division at NSF. This research addresses chemical reactions of rare-earth elements. Rare-earth elements have been designated critical national resources due to their many technological applications. They are important in magnetism and quantum computing - technologies that have broad potential applications. The project also pursues applications including the development of the smallest, most efficient, magnets, called single-molecule magnets. In addition, students are trained in the use and applications of strategic resources. A component of the project also involves an outreach program to middle and high schools to expose students to rare earths elements, their applications, and the value of scientific research. The chemistry of praseodymium(II), gadolinium(II), terbium(II), holmium(II), erbium(II), and lutetium(II), is being explored to evaluate the special chemical reactions that can arise from their unexpected 4fn5d1 electron configurations. These electron configurations differ from traditional +2 oxidation states of the lanthanide metals (4fn+1 configurations) and could form the basis for new fundamental types of redox chemistry. The chemistry of the new rare earth ion, yttrium(II) (4d1 configuration) is also being studied for comparison. New series of complexes of these +2 ions are synthesized and their reactivity and magnetic and spectroscopic properties are investigated. As these compounds are photoactive diradicals, they present intriguing new options in synthesis, magnetism, and small molecule activation. Among other applications, the development of quantum bits, or qubits, is being pursued.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.