Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

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 readily available hydrocarbons, many of which are produced as undesirable side products in the petrochemical industry and contribute significantly to greenhouse gases, into useful organic compounds. This is accomplished by using molecules known as phosphido ligands to stabilize transition metal complexes with unusual geometries and unique electronic properties. The isolation of these complexes should also provide insight into fundamental questions regarding bonding and structure, thereby contributing 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 offer very little control over key features of the polymer. Unlike these systems, our strategy focuses upon the development of positively charged magnesium and calcium species, which, due to their positive charge and vacant coordination site, should be highly active lactide polymerization catalysts. Many of the chemical precursors and tailor-made target compounds described within this application react with the oxygen and mositure in the air.  As such, special equipment, namely the described glove box, is essential to exclude air, and thus, to the success of this research program.