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The overall goal of our research is the development of the coordination chemistry of heavy main group metals (e.g. In, Bi), which possess interesting and useful Lewis acid properties. We achieve this through the synthesis and characterization of series of organometallic compounds which systematically alter the metal bonding environment and ability to facilitate chemical reactions. Current areas of research include:

Reactive Main Group Metal Compounds via Redox-Active Ligands - A focus of contemporary main group chemistry is the design of alternatives to expensive and toxic transition and rare earth metal organometallic catalysts for organic transformations important to the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. Reagents of the main group metals indium and bismuth are well-established Lewis acid catalysts in organic syntheses. However, their use for oxidation/reduction reactions is much less developed as both metals are predominantly stable in one oxidation state. An alternative route to designing main group metal compounds capable of redox reaction chemistry is through use of redox-active ligands. We are preparing indium and bismuth compounds using anionic ligands that are capable of reversible one-electron oxidation. Ultimately, this research may lead to new classes of homogeneous organometallic catalysts that possess unique reactivity and afford novel chemical products.

Catalysts for the Production of Biofuels - The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fats requires the conversion of triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs).  Commercial methods for carrying out such chemical modifications require the addition of catalytic amounts of strong acids or bases to fragment the complex chemical structures associated with these biomaterials to produce FAMEs.  However, impurities in (waste) feedstocks limit the efficiency of these processes and thus increase the cost of biodiesel production.  We are developing green metal-based catalytic systems that allow the processing of waste oils and animal fats without the need for extensive pre- and post-purification steps, thereby minimizing the cost and environmental impact of biodiesel production.  Specifically, we are synthesizing water-stable indium and bismuth compounds which are being screened for their ability to catalyze various organic reactions in aqueous media, notably the conversion of triglycerides to FAMEs (biodiesel).