Development of High-Valent Aerobic Oxidation Catalysis (2021-09-17)

Abstract

Aerobically generated metal–ligand (M–L) multiply bonded species are critical intermediates in both synthetic and biological C–H functionalization chemistry. The exquisite reactivity of intermediates capable of functionalizing C–H bonds renders these transient intermediates 1) challenging to observe or characterize and 2) difficult to harness for selective intermolecular C–H functionalization, such as during oxidative hydrocarbon upgrading. This talk will discuss progress towards aerobic synthesis of reactive M–L multiply bonded intermediates, the development of new inorganic photochemical methods that enable direct structural characterization of reactive M–L multiply bonded species, and fundamental studies of the diffusional barriers that must be managed during intermolecular functionalization chemistry within porous catalyst materials. Prof. Powers earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University with Prof. Tobias Ritter and pursued postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University with Prof. Daniel Nocera. He joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2015 where his group develops tools and tactics for selective aerobic oxidation catalysis. His teaching has been recognized by the Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence Award and his research program has been recognized by NSF CAREER, DOE Early Career, and NIH MIRA Awards, as well as a 2020 Sloan Fellowship.