Transition metal complexes for oxidative transformations of hydrocarbons

Ottenwaelder团队致力于研究金属离子的化学性质，尤其对氧化过程感兴趣。工业非常需要能量上可行且对环境友好的反应，将石油和天然气的成分碳氢化合物转化为有用的化学品。然而，在温和的条件下，碳氢化合物的直接氧化转化仍然非常难以实现。大自然通过使用在环境友好条件下运作的含金属酶，优化了许多这样的反应；因此，它是这种化学的一个伟大的灵感来源。因此，我的小组的研究目标有两个：(1)了解酶效率的起源，(2)制备可以进行困难氧化反应的催化剂。我们最初的方法是用小的含金属分子（称为金属配合物）来模拟酶活性位点，并研究它们的反应性行为。模型和酶的比较将告诉我们实现强反应性所需的因素。接下来，我们将在金属配合物中实现这些因子的高效催化。

The Ottenwaelder group pursues research in the chemistry of metal ions and is specifically interested in oxidation processes. Industry has a great need for energetically viable and environmentally friendly reactions that convert hydrocarbons, the constituents of oil and natural gas, into useful chemicals. Yet, the direct oxidative transformation of hydrocarbons remains tremendously difficult to achieve in mild conditions. Nature has optimized many such reactions through the use of metal-containing enzymes that operate in environmentally friendly conditions; it is therefore a great source of inspiration for this chemistry. The research goals of my group are thus two-fold: (1) to understand the origin of the efficiency of the enzymes, and (2) to prepare catalysts that can perform difficult oxidation reactions. Our initial approach is to model the enzymatic active sites with small metal-containing molecules (called metal complexes) and study their reactivity behaviour. Comparison of the models and the enzymes will inform us on the factors necessary to achieve a strong reactivity. Next, we will implement these factors in metal complexes to perform efficient catalysis.