Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Research in the Hayes group focuses on the preparation and study of high-energy and reactive molecules for application in new chemical transformations and catalysis. Specifically, we are interested in the development of catalytic systems for directly converting inexpensive and abundant hydrocarbons into useful organic compounds. Such derivitization is especially desirable for smaller hydrocarbons, such as methane, which are produced as undesirable side products in the petrochemical industry and contribute significantly to greenhouse gases. We use molecules known as phosphido ligands to stabilize high oxidation state late transition metal complexes with unusual geometries and unique electronic properties to promote the activation of chemically inert small molecules. The isolation of this class of compound should also provide insight into fundamental questions regarding bonding and structure and contribute to the knowledge base used by chemists to design new catalytic reactions. This additional knowledge will ultimately allow for rational improvements to current catalytic systems and the development of entirely novel reactions. The second component of my research program tackles the challenge of preparing new materials that are both biodegradable and biocompatible. A particularly attractive alternative to conventional polyolefin materials is polylactide, PLA, which exhibits useful processability and macroscopic properties. In addition, the synthetic precursors to PLA can be found in inexpensive renewable resources, such as beets and corn, and the resultant polymers are both environmentally friendly and biologically compatible. Despite these benefits, current technologies have limited activity and offer very little control over key features of the polymer. Unlike these systems, which are neutral, our strategy focuses upon the development of positively charged magnesium and calcium, alkoxide and amido species, which, due to increased electrophilicity and coordinative unsaturation, should be highly active lactide polymerization catalysts.