Exploring the Molecular Chemistry of Selenium and Tellurium

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The elements selenium and tellurium have a wide range of industrial and consumer applications, from solar cell production and steel manufacture to anti-dandruff shampoos. Nature has evolved complex enzymes featuring selenium as a critical component in controlling biochemical reactions, making it an essential micronutrient. In contrast to its valuable role in biology, the use of the heavy chalcogens in man-made chemicals lags behind other common elements such as phosphorus and sulfur. Given this high potential for new discoveries, selenium and tellurium (known as the "heavy chalcogens") are being increasingly researched to find new applications. In 2015, Canada was the fourth-largest producer of these elements in the world, providing further incentive to explore the chemistry of these elements. ******The proposed research program will conduct investigations into the chemistry of new heavy chalcogen-containing ligands, which are molecules or ions that bind to metals. Studies of this nature exist in the literature, but they are relatively sparse, and often there is not enough data to correlate the structure of the ligands with their activity of the resulting metal complexes. We aim to prepare a library of related ligands, and systematically investigate their structure-activity relationships to establish protocols for the future rationale design of molecular metal complexes. The work will generate new discoveries of the fundamental chemistry of these ligands, which in turn will allow them to be incorporated into compounds with real-world applicability, such as catalysts for production of fine chemicals or pharmaceuticals, or improved light-harvesting materials.******Training of highly-qualified personnel (HQP) will be of paramount importance in this study. 64% of the budget is dedicated to wages and stipends for a number of undergraduate and graduate student HQP, who will conduct this research and in turn learn valuable transferable skills. Developing strong research, communication, and problem-solving skills will allow them to transition to in-demand careers in government, academia, and industry.