Event

Title: Inorganic additives in organotransition metal chemistry

Abstract:External additives (such as Bronsted or Lewis acids and bases) can boost catalytic
output or tune selectivity of homogeneous catalytic reactions. Our research group is
working to better understand the origins of additive effects so that improved catalytic
reactions can be designed and implemented. In one case, we have developed a
spectroscopic assay for measuring the affinity of Lewis acids for specific ligands of
organometallic complexes. Other projects involve benchmarking the effect of
additives on catalytic reactions and correlating quantitatively to other physical
properties. The culmination of these efforts is the discovery of new (and improved)
conditions for catalytic bond formations

Inquires please contact Rosa M. Vargas rvargas@sas.upenn.edu