SALC: An Orbital Arrangement Game
Description
We have developed a tabletop game to help students get comfortable with symmetry adapted linear combinations of orbitals (SALCs), a conceptual model used to understand bonding in molecular orbital theory. We have found that students often get anxious about SALCs and miss not only the visual connections to symmetry, but also the fun! This LO includes information about the game, files you can use to print your own copy as well as a link in case you want to purchase a copy, and an example of how it might be incorporated into the classroom.
Metal/Ligand Proton Tautomerism Facilitates Dinuclear H2 Reductive Elimination (Kuo)
Description
This LO was developed in 2022 as part of a collection celebrating the “Out in Inorganic Chemistry: A Celebration of LGBTQIAPN+ Inorganic Chemists” Inorganic Chemistry special issue. Check out the editorial and issue here: Editorial Special Issue
The questions below refer to the following 2020 publication by Dr. Jonathan Kuo and Dr. Karen Goldberg
Metal-Ligand Multiple Bonds: The Discovery of “Double Nickel” (Hillhouse)
Description
This LO focuses on creating complexes with multiple bonds between late transition metals and nitrogen. The questions will guide students through Mindiola and Hillhouse's communication that details the synthesis and investigation of three-coordinate terminal amido and imido complexes of nickel. This communication is significant because it describes the synthesis and structural characterization of what became known as his "double nickel" complex, which contains a Ni-N double bond.
Substitution Chemistry in Odd-Electron Iron Group Carbonyl Complexes (D'Acchioli)
Nancy Williams / Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College
Sun, 05/29/2022 - 05:54
Description
This LO brings together organometallic chemistry, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry in a complete whole, and shows how these different expertises and techniques all can add to our understanding of a rich chemical system. It might be of particular interest in a class dominated by even-electron and diamagnetic chemistry to give students an understanding of how practitioners approach odd-electron, paramagnetic systems.
Discussion of "Dirhodium(II/II)/NiO Photocathode for Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Red Light" (Turro)
Jason D'Acchioli / University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Sat, 05/21/2022 - 12:13
Description
This Learning Object is dedicated to Prof. Claudia Turro as part of the VIPEr LGBTQIAN+ LO collection created in celebration of Pride Month (Jun) 2022. Prof. Turro was featured in the April 2022 special virtual issue Out in Inorganic Chemistry: A Celebration of LGBTQIAPN+ Inorganic Chemists (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00729). Claudia holds a special place in my heart. I came out later in life, and she was incredibly supportive as I wrestled with my identity as a gay man.
Mechanistic Study of Competitive sp3-sp3 and sp2-sp3 Carbon-Carbon Reductive Elimination from a Platinum(IV) Center and the Isolation of a C-C Agostic Complex (Williams)
Description
This literature discussion focuses on a J. Am. Chem. Soc. communication that describes a series of Pt complexes that exhibit competitive reductive elimination reactions to form either an sp2-sp3 bond or an sp3-sp3 bond. One of the complexes also contains a C-C agostic interaction with the metal. The questions are written to be addressed by students in a foundation-level inorganic course.
Inorganic Chemistry
Description
The wave nature of electrons is applied to atomic structure and periodic trends. Inter and intramolecular bonding models are used to interpret the chemical and physical properties of various materials, from simplistic diatomic molecules to structurally complex molecular and ionic systems.
Guided Literature Discussion of “Synthesis of Rhodium and Iridium Complexes Supported by Bis(indolylphosphino)silyl Pincer Ligation: Competitive N−H and C−H Bond Activation by an Ir(I) Species”
Description
This Guided Literature Discussion was assigned as a course project and is the result of work originated by students Elina Andreassen and Abigail Palmer.
Catalytic Transformation of Lignin (Abu Omar)
Description
Lignin material from plants may be transformed into useful organic materials. This LO is part of a special VIPEr collection honoring the 2022 ACS National Award recipients in the field of inorganic chemistry. Mahdi Abu Omar was the recipient of the ACS Award in Green Chemistry for his contributions to fundamental science and technology development for catalytic lignin conversion to renewable chemicals, fuels, and materials following green chemistry and engineering principles.