Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The research proposed is based on synthesis, reactivity, structure and function in organometallic and coordination chemistry of the transition metals. This research is fundamental in nature, but it has relevance to catalysis and to materials science. In catalysis, the aim is to understand the steps involved in the activation of carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane and arenes, and the subsequent oxidation to give functional organic compounds. In materials, we are developing methods to form oligomers, nanomaterials, polymers and network materials which contain metal atoms as integral components. A large part of this work uses self-assembly as an important component of the overall synthesis. The long-term aim is to be able to build complex molecular materials with built in functions.