Research in this group focuses on understanding how transition metal catalysts work. Catalysts are used to carry out thousands of different reactions. They are a fundamental part of green chemistry. Industrial catalysts allow us to make new materials, reduce pollution and increase energy efficiency. Most catalysts used today are solids (heterogeneous), but ones that dissolve (homogeneous)can be easier to study and can carry out reactions more selectively.

The strategy we employ is a cycle:

1. Collaborating with Dr. Kiefer, we make small organic molecules.
2. We then turn these molecules into ligands by binding them to metals.
3. Next we characterize the new compounds, using techniques like NMR, IR, and CV.
4. We test out the reactivity of our new compounds to see what molecules they react with. We've chosen systems that should display hydrogenation, hydroformylation, hydrocarbonylation and/or polymerization reactivity.
5. We try to figure out how the reactions occur using detailed mechanistic studies, and use what we learn to go back and design more ligands.

The purpose of research in this group is to teach science. Group members learn how to read the literature, handle pyrophoric chemicals, use and understand a variety of instruments and carry out syntheses. Mercer students can do research for credit as CHM 295 or (if you're a senior) CHM 401 or can work for a stipend in the summer. Summer inquiries need to be made by March 1.