RUI: Activation of Small Molecules by Hexanuclear Clusters

化学合成(SYN)项目的这一奖项支持伊利诺伊州立大学的Lisa F.Szczepura教授开展基础研究，以确定八面体六核金属络合物激活小分子的范围和机制。感兴趣的反应是涉及腈、异腈和叠氮化物的[2+3]偶极环加成反应和亲核加成反应。将研究不同末端配体的反应性，并对这些反应的机理方面进行研究。这些研究将使人们更深入地了解影响这些团簇核心激活小分子的因素。此外，这些研究还将有助于探索八面体簇合物作为催化剂和构建新型固体材料的潜在应用。通过将由职业奖励资金开发的丰富研讨会计划的成功概念纳入她的指导和研究工作，PI希望在本科生和研究生层面培养训练有素、积极进取、代表性不足的科学家。特别是，对来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的一年级或二年级学生的指导将有助于提高这些学生在伊利诺伊州立大学的留校率和成功率。这些研究将更好地理解过渡金属团簇对有机小分子的活化作用，并有助于深入了解这种活化的机理。小分子活化涉及一些在有机合成和许多不同工业中发挥关键作用的基本重要化合物的形成，包括：制药、炸药、染料和农业。

This award in the Chemical Synthesis (SYN) program supports work by Professor Lisa F. Szczepura at Illinois State University to carry out fundamental studies to determine the scope and mechanism of small molecule activation by octahedral hexanuclear metal complexes. The reactions of interest are [2+3] dipolar cycloadditions and nucleophilic additions involving nitriles, isonitriles, and azides. The reactivity of different terminal ligands will be investigated, and a study of the mechanistic aspects of these reactions will be performed. These investigations will result in a deeper understanding of the factors that influence small molecule activation by these cluster cores. In addition, these studies will help probe potential applications of octahedral cluster complexes as catalysts and as building blocks in new solid state materials. By incorporating successful concepts from the Enrichment Workshop Program, developed with funds from a CAREER award, into her mentoring and research efforts, the PI hopes to generate well trained, motivated, underrepresented scientists at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In particular, mentorship of freshman or sophomore students from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences will help increase the retention and success rate of these students at Illinois State University. These studies will provide a better understanding of the activation of small organic molecules by transition metal clusters and will lend insight into the mechanistic aspects of this activation. Small molecule activation involves the formation of a number of fundamentally important compounds that play key roles in organic synthesis, and in a number of different industries including: pharmaceuticals, explosives, dyes and agriculture.