Redox-switch polymerization catalysis

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 13:49
Description

This is the full literature discussion based on a communicaiton (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011133, 9278). This paper describes a redox-switch yttrium catalyst that is an active catalyst for the polymerization of L-lactide in the reduced form and inactive in the oxidized form. The catalyst contains a ferrocene-based ligand that serves as the redox active site in the catalyst. This full literature discussion is an extension of the one figure literature discussion that is listed below.

1FLO: Redox-switch polymerization catalysis

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Fri, 03/22/2019 - 16:11
Description

This is what I hope will be a new classification of learning object called a one figure learning object (1FLO). The purpose is to take a single figure from a paper and present students with a series of questions related to interpreting the figure. This literature discussion is based on a paper (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 9278) from Paula Diaconescu's lab in which a yttrium polymerization catalyst with a ferrocene-based ligand can effectively be rendered active or inactive depeneding on the valence state of the ligand.

Guided Literature Discussion of “Next-Generation Water-Soluble Homogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Glycerol to Lactic Acid”

Submitted by M. Watzky / University of Northern Colorado on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 14:50
Description

This Guided Literature Discussion was assigned as a course project, and is the result of work originated by students Joie Games and Benjamin Melzer.  It is based on the article “Next-Generation Water-Soluble Homogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Glycerol to Lactic Acid” by Matthew Finn, J. August Ridenour, Jacob Heltzel, Christopher Cahill, and Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal in Organometallics 2018 37 (9), 1400-1409.

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Kari Young / Centre College on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:23
Description

A study of the chemistry of inorganic compounds, including the principles of covalent and ionic bonding, symmetry, periodic properties, metallic bonding, acid-base theories, coordination chemistry, inorganic reaction mechanisms, and selected topics in descriptive inorganic chemistry. Laboratory work is required.

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Darren Achey / Kutztown University on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 14:50
Description

The application of physio-chemical principles to understanding structure and reactivity in main group and transition elements. Valence Bond, Crystal Field, VSEPR, and LCAO-MO will be applied to describe the bonding in coordination compounds. Organometallic and bio-inorganic chemistry will be treated, as will boranes, cluster and ring systems, and inorganic polymers. The laboratory will involve both synthetic and analytic techniques and interpretation of results.

Interpreting Reaction Profile Energy Diagrams: Experiment vs. Computation

Submitted by Douglas A. Vander Griend / Calvin College on Sat, 06/23/2018 - 10:56
Description

The associated paper by Lehnert et al. uses DFT to investigate the reaction mechanism whereby a flavodiiron nitric oxide reductase mimic reduces two NO molecules to N2O. While being a rather long and technical paper, it does include several figures that highlight the reaction profile of the 4-step reaction. This LO is designed to help students learn how to recognize and interpret such diagrams, based on free energy in this case. Furthermore, using a simple form of the Arrhenius equation (eq.

Inorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Nicole Crowder / University of Mary Washington on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 10:45
Description

Modern theories of atomic structure and chemical bonding and their applocations to molecular and metallic structures and coordination chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry II

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Mon, 01/15/2018 - 14:03
Description

This course uses molecular orbital theory to explain the electronic structure and reactivity of inorganic complexes. Topics include symmetry and its applications to bonding and spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy of transition-metal complexes, mechanisms of substitution and redox processes, organometallic and multinuclear NMR.

 

Additional notes

I do not require a formal text but George Stanley's organometallic chemistry 'book' on VIPEr is made available to students (the link is found below).