SusChEM: New Chemistry with Transition Metal-Main Group Compounds - Structure, Reactivity and Catalysis

在化学系化学合成(SYN)计划的这一奖项下，T.Don Tilley教授和他在加州大学伯克利分校化学系的研究小组将对新的过渡金属-主族络合物的结构、成键和反应活性进行基础研究，特别是具有硅烯配体的络合物LNm=Sirr‘。这项研究旨在提供对该计划中发现的一种新型硅氢化反应的机理和范围的了解。这项工作将为更具挑战性的催化硅氢化底物以及其他利用成本效益高、富含稀土的金属(如铁、钴和镍)的催化体系提供指导。第一排金属的高效催化是一个普遍存在的主题，引起了研究界和工业催化界的强烈兴趣，因此了解这种催化剂的工作原理是很重要的。这项研究的广泛影响涉及到它开发的新的化学转化策略，在药物开发、聚合物和材料合成以及大规模生产增值化学品方面具有潜在的应用。拟议的基础研究将有助于化学家用来设计有助于可持续发展的新催化反应的知识库。此外，拟议的研究非常适合青年科学家的培训。此外，国际和平协会和参与该项目的学生定期参加和领导外展活动，例如培训当地高中生和在当地一所中学进行科学示范。值得注意的是，研究小组内部的一项合作努力包括计划和向小学生提供科学课程。小组成员前往附近的小学(每月至少两所)教授基本科学原理，希望改善STEM的早期教育，并鼓励初出茅庐的科学家。

With this award from the Chemical Synthesis (SYN) Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor T. Don Tilley and his research group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, will conduct fundamental studies of structure, bonding, and reactivity in new transition metal-main group complexes, with a particular focus on complexes with silylene ligands, LnM=SiRR'. This research is designed to provide an understanding of the mechanism and scope of a new type of hydrosilation reaction discovered in this program. This work will guide the way to more challenging catalytic hydrosilation substrates, and to other catalytic systems that utilize cost-effective, earth-abundant metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel. Efficient catalysis with first row metals is a pervasive theme attracting strong interest in the research and industrial catalysis communities, and it is therefore important to learn how such catalysts may operate.Broader impacts of this research relate to its development of new strategies for chemical conversions having potential applications in drug development, polymer and materials synthesis, and the large-scale production of value-added chemicals. The proposed basic research will contribute to the knowledge base chemists use to design new catalytic reactions that will contribute to sustainability. Furthermore, the proposed research is well suited for the training of young scientists. In addition, the PI and students involved in this project regularly participate in and lead outreach activities, such as the training of local high school students and presenting science demonstrations at a local middle school. Notably, a collaborative effort within the research group involves planning and presenting science lessons to grade school students. Group members travel to nearby elementary schools (at least two each month) and teach basic scientific principles, hoping to improve early STEM education and encourage budding scientists.