leveraging molecular architecture for sustainability
Research in my group spans the traditional bounds of synthetic inorganic and organic chemistry, with an overarching goal to develop new functional molecules: ligands, transition metal complexes, and main group compounds that promote the equitable use of resources, specifically with regard to global hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles. We are motivated by a desire to revise the way in which we, as humans, interact with the planet by inventing ways to utilize greenhouse gasses as feedstocks, designing new catalysts for clean energy, and providing better methods for the synthesis of specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and bulk consumer products. In this vein, our interests comprise concepts broadly related to catalysis using novel organometallic constructs having structure and/or bonding properties that can be leveraged for the development of new [or modification of known] reactions with creative design elements drawn from nature. Collectively, these themes buttress a research program devoted to exploiting inorganic and main group chemistry for application in sustainability science.