CAREER: Catalysis with copper complexes bearing redox-active ligands with tunable hydrogen-bonding donor

在美国国家科学基金会化学分部化学催化项目的支持下，南卫理公会大学的Isaac Garcia-Bosch博士正在研究新的铜化合物及其与氧和碳氢化合物的相互作用。长期目标是发现新的合成方法，这些方法可以制成药物、聚合物和其他工业上有用的化合物。这种方法的灵感来自于铜催化剂在自然界中的作用，众所周知，铜催化剂可以促进碳氢化合物的氧化。这些氧化作用将廉价的碳氢化合物转化为高价值的产品。研究考察了铜催化剂的结构如何影响它们与氧的相互作用，从而影响反应的过程。Garcia-Bosch博士正在将生物启发实验引入教学实验室。赠款还支持旨在使化学对西班牙裔学生，特别是女性学生具有吸引力的推广活动。这些活动包括以西班牙语和英语提供的动手实验室培训和示范。这些外联活动预计将增加科学工作人员。在美国国家科学基金会化学部化学催化项目的资助下，南卫理公会大学的Isaac Garcia-Bosch博士正在开发铜配合物作为氧化催化剂。特别感兴趣的是具有挑战性的转化，例如碳(C)-氢(H)和C=C键的功能化，在温和的条件下，使用廉价和无毒的试剂。受天然金属酶的启发，催化剂被设计成含有氧化还原活性配体，具有可调的h键供体，这允许控制在这些转化过程中形成的中间物质的反应性。通过协作研究，阐明了这些铜配合物的结构、光谱和反应机理。在研究项目的同时，西班牙裔高中学生被邀请参加为期一天的科学展览，这些展览用西班牙语和英语进行。目的是提高年轻学生的交流和科学技能。正在制定一项新的培训计划（西班牙裔妇女暑期研究计划，HWSRP），为西班牙裔女学生提供研究方面的指导和实践培训。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Catalysis Program of the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Isaac Garcia-Bosch of Southern Methodist University is studying new copper compounds and their interactions with oxygen and hydrocarbons. The long-range goal is to discover new routes to compounds that could be useful as pharmaceuticals, polymers, and other industrially useful chemical compounds. The approach is inspired by the roles of copper catalysts in nature, which are known to promote the oxidations of hydrocarbons. These oxidations convert inexpensive hydrocarbons into high-value products. The research examines how the structure of the copper catalysts influences their interaction with oxygen, which in turn influences the course of the reactions. Dr. Garcia-Bosch is introducing bioinspired experiments into the teaching laboratory. The grant also supports outreach activities aimed at making chemistry attractive to Hispanic students, especially women. These activities include hands-on laboratory training and demonstrations, which are provided in Spanish and in English. These outreach activities are expected to increase the scientific workforce.With funding from the Chemical Catalysis program of the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Isaac Garcia-Bosch of Southern Methodist University is developing copper complexes as oxidation catalysts. Of particular interest are challenging transformations, such as the functionalization of carbon (C)-hydrogen (H) and C=C bonds, under mild conditions, using cheap and non-toxic reagents. Taking inspiration from natural metalloenzymes, the catalysts are designed to contain a redox-active ligand with tunable H-bonding donors, which allows for control of the reactivity of the intermediate species that are formed during these transformations. Through collaborations, the structure and spectroscopy of these copper complexes and the reaction mechanisms are being elucidated. In parallel with the research project, Hispanic high school students are invited to participate in one-day science fairs, which are conducted in Spanish and English. The goal is to improve both the communication and scientific skills of the young students. A new training program is being developed (Hispanic Women Summer Research Program, HWSRP), in which Hispanic female students are provided mentoring and hands-on training in research.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.