Prof. Zachary J. Tonzetich – The University of Texas at San Antonio
Event Date:
October 21, 2013 – 3:45 PM to October 22, 2013 – 4:59 PM
Event Date:
October 21, 2013 – 3:45 PM to October 22, 2013 – 4:59 PM
Seminar Series
Fall 2013
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Prof. Zachary J. Tonzetich
The University of Texas at San Antonio
“Non-Traditional Organometallics: Fundamental Studies and Catalytic Applications”
ABSTRACT:
The field of organometallic chemistry has traditionally been associated with a high degree of metal-ligand covalency. Such a view allows the reactivity and stability of organotransition metal compounds to be conveniently described within the paradigm of the effective atomic number rule (i.e., the “18-electon rule”). Our laboratory is interested in exploring the chemistry of compounds containing metal-carbon bonds that do not fit this classical mold. These compounds display properties more akin to Werner-type coordination complexes and often comprise Earth-abundant first-row transition metals such as Mn, Fe, and Co. In this lecture, the organometallic chemistry of these elements with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands will be presented and discussed in the context of C-C cross-coupling catalysis.
BIO:
Dr. Tonzetich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to his appointment at UTSA, he conducted postdoctoral work (2007-10) with Prof. Stephen Lippard at MIT, from where he also received his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry (2007) after working under the direction of Prof. Richard Schrock on the chemistry of early transition metal alkyl, alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes. He received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the U. of Rochester, where he did research in the laboratory of Prof. Richard Eisenberg. His research interests are in synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry, including catalysis with earth-abundant metals, the coordination chemistry of NO and H2S, and the use of new metal complexes for the activation of small molecules.