The focus of this research is the use of ligands to control catalyst homogeneity and miscibility. First, polymeric ligands will be prepared that have inverse temperature dependent solubility. The goal is to use a macromolecular ligand to both ligate a metal and to regulate a reaction. Second, oligomeric ligands will be designed to provide or contribute to the solvent microenvironment around a catalyst so that the effects of bulk solvent are mitigated. Third, macromolecules will be studied for the ability to phase isolate soluble species from one another in a common solvent. Finally, chiral macromolecular ligands that enhance stereoselectivity will be studied. %%% With this award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. David E. Bergbreiter of the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. Professor Bergbreiter will focus his work on using the properties of soluble macromolecules to design ligands that control the physical properties of homogeneous catalysts. The general idea is to learn if the physiochemical properties of soluble polymers can control a homogeneous catalyst's homogeneity and miscibility in useful ways.
